# CVE-2023-49897: FXC AE1021, AE1021PE OS Command Injection

> Authenticated attackers can execute arbitrary OS commands on AE1021 devices due to improper input validation in the firmware.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 21 Dec 2023 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Dec 2023
- **Updated:** 21 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x3f3-j7qh-9wgj

## What is CVE-2023-49897?

CVE-2023-49897 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in FXC Inc. AE1021, published on 6 Dec 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An OS command injection vulnerability exists in AE1021PE firmware version 2.0.9 and earlier and AE1021 firmware version 2.0.9 and earlier. If this vulnerability is exploited, an arbitrary OS command may be executed by an attacker who can log in to the product.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-49897?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Fxc Ae1021 Firmware, Fxc Ae1021pe Firmware.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-49897?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-49897 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available. US federal agencies must fix it by 11 Jan 2024.

## Is CVE-2023-49897 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-49897 in the wild since at least 21 Dec 2023.

## Other vulnerabilities in FXC Inc. AE1021

- [CVE-2018-0679](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-0679/): Cross-site scripting in multiple FXC Inc. network devices (Managed Ethernet switch FXC5210/5218/5224 firmware prior to version Ver1.00.22, Managed Ethernet switch FXC5426F firmware prior to version Ver1.00.06, Managed Ethernet switch FXC5428 firmware prior to version Ver1.00.07, Power over Ethernet (PoE) switch FXC5210PE/5218PE/5224PE firmware prior to version Ver1.00.14, and Wireless LAN router AE1021/AE1021PE firmware all versions) (medium 4.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-49897 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-49897 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in FXC Inc. AE1021, published on 6 Dec 2023. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2023-49897 in the wild since at least 21 Dec 2023.

Affected product: FXC Inc. AE1021. 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-2023-49897/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49897/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-49897
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-49897
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-49897

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-49897/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.