# CVE-2023-49253: Predefined root password

> Attackers can gain root access to Hongdian H8951-4G-ESP routers using a hardcoded password that cannot be changed via the interface.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 12 Jan 2024
- **Updated:** 20 Jun 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-mm6p-hjx4-8rx3

## What is CVE-2023-49253?

CVE-2023-49253 is a critical vulnerability in Hongdian H8951-4G-ESP, published on 12 Jan 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Root user password is hardcoded into the device and cannot be changed in the user interface.

Weakness: CWE-798 (Use of Hard-coded Credentials)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-49253?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Hongdian H8951-4g-Esp Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-49253?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-49253 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-49253 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-49253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Hongdian H8951-4G-ESP

- [CVE-2023-49255](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49255/): Router console accessible without authentication (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-49262](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49262/): Buffer overflow vulnerability in Cookie authentication field (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-49254](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49254/): Command injection in the network test tools (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-49257](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49257/): Command execution using the certificate upload utility (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-49256](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49256/): Predictable encryption passphrase used in publicly accessible configuration file (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-49253 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-49253 is a critical vulnerability in Hongdian H8951-4G-ESP, published on 12 Jan 2024. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-49253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Hongdian H8951-4G-ESP. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49253/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49253/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-49253
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-49253
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-49253

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49253/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.