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CVE-2023-20198

Cisco is providing an update for the ongoing investigation into observed exploitation of the web UI feature in Cisco IOS XE Software. We are...

Basic Information

CVE State
PUBLISHED
Reserved Date
October 27, 2022
Published Date
October 16, 2023
Last Updated
October 23, 2024
Vendor
Cisco
Product
Cisco IOS XE Software
Description
Cisco is providing an update for the ongoing investigation into observed exploitation of the web UI feature in Cisco IOS XE Software. We are updating the list of fixed releases and adding the Software Checker. Our investigation has determined that the actors exploited two previously unknown issues. The attacker first exploited CVE-2023-20198 to gain initial access and issued a privilege 15 command to create a local user and password combination. This allowed the user to log in with normal user access. The attacker then exploited another component of the web UI feature, leveraging the new local user to elevate privilege to root and write the implant to the file system. Cisco has assigned CVE-2023-20273 to this issue. CVE-2023-20198 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 10.0. CVE-2023-20273 has been assigned a CVSS Score of 7.2. Both of these CVEs are being tracked by CSCwh87343.
Tags
ios cisa nuclei_scanner edge metasploit_scanner nessus_scanner

CVSS Scores

CVSS v3.1

10.0 - CRITICAL

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

SSVC Information

Exploitation
active
Automatable
Yes
Technical Impact
total

Exploit Status

Exploited in the Wild
Yes (2025-05-05 00:00:00 UTC) Source
Proof of Concept Available
Yes (added 2023-10-25 21:15:58 UTC) Source

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z

Known Exploited Vulnerability Information

Source Added Date
CISA 2023-10-16 00:00:00 UTC

Recent Mentions

In this special edition of the Cybersecurity Snapshot, we bring you some of the most valuable guidance offered by the U.K. National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in the past 18 months. Check out best practices, recommendations and insights on protecting your AI systems, APIs and mobile devices, as well as on how to prep for post-quantum cryptography, and more.In case you missed it, here are six NCSC recommendations to help your organization fine-tune its cybersecurity strategy and operations.1 - How to migrate to quantum-resistant cryptographyIs your organization planning to adopt cryptography that can resist attacks from future quantum computers? If so, you might want to check out the NCSC’s “Timelines for migration to post-quantum (PQC) cryptography,” a white paper aimed at helping organizations plan their migration to quantum-resistant cryptography.“Migration to PQC can be viewed as any large technology transition. In the guidance, we describe the key steps in such a transition, and illustrate some of the cryptography and PQC-specific elements required at each stage of the programme,” reads a companion blog. At a high-level, the NCSC proposes these three key milestones:By 2028Define the organization’s migration goals.Assess which services and infrastructure need to have their cryptography upgraded to PQC.Draft an initial migration plan that includes, for example, the highest priority migration steps; the necessary investment; and what you’ll need from your suppliers.By 2031Execute the first, most important PQC migration steps.Refine the PQC migration plan to ensure the roadmap will be fulfilled.Ensure your infrastructure is ready to support PQC.By 2035Complete your PQC migration.Organizations need to migrate to PQC because quantum computers will be able to decrypt data protected with today’s public-key cryptographic algorithms. These powerful quantum computers are expected to become generally available at some point between 2030 and 2040.The U.S. National...

Scanner Integrations

Scanner URL Date Detected
Metasploit https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/linux/misc/cisco_ios_xe_rce.rb 2025-04-29 11:01:18 UTC
Nuclei https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-20198.yaml 2025-04-26 00:00:00 UTC
Nessus https://www.tenable.com/plugins/nessus/184452 2023-11-06 18:46:00 UTC

Potential Proof of Concepts

Warning: These PoCs have not been tested and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.

W01fh4cker/CVE-2023-20198-RCE

Type: github • Created: 2024-04-25 06:59:53 UTC • Stars: 38

CVE-2023-20198-RCE, support adding/deleting users and executing cli commands/system commands.

Vulnmachines/Cisco_CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-12-11 10:41:48 UTC • Stars: 2

Cisco CVE-2023-20198

smokeintheshell/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-11-16 16:39:38 UTC • Stars: 45

CVE-2023-20198 Exploit PoC

RevoltSecurities/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-11-03 13:05:59 UTC • Stars: 7

An Exploitation script developed to exploit the CVE-2023-20198 Cisco zero day vulnerability on their IOS routers

IceBreakerCode/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-25 21:15:58 UTC • Stars: 1

mr-r3b00t/CVE-2023-20198-IOS-XE-Scanner

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-25 07:13:59 UTC • Stars: 2

Shadow0ps/CVE-2023-20198-Scanner

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-23 19:25:29 UTC • Stars: 30

This is a webshell fingerprinting scanner designed to identify implants on Cisco IOS XE WebUI's affected by CVE-2023-20198 and CVE-2023-20273

Pushkarup/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-23 16:04:23 UTC • Stars: 8

A PoC for CVE 2023-20198

sohaibeb/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-20 23:34:12 UTC • Stars: 2

CISCO CVE POC SCRIPT

Tounsi007/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-18 08:50:49 UTC • Stars: 9

CVE-2023-20198 PoC (!)

ZephrFish/CVE-2023-20198-Checker

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-17 22:41:14 UTC • Stars: 30

CVE-2023-20198 & 0Day Implant Scanner

securityphoenix/cisco-CVE-2023-20198-tester

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-17 15:44:01 UTC • Stars: 1

cisco-CVE-2023-20198-tester

Atea-Redteam/CVE-2023-20198

Type: github • Created: 2023-10-17 08:00:18 UTC • Stars: 18

CVE-2023-20198 Checkscript

Timeline

  • CVE ID Reserved

  • Added to KEVIntel

  • CVE Published to Public

  • Proof of Concept Exploit Available

  • Detected by Nessus

  • Detected by Nuclei

  • Detected by Metasploit