How severe is CVE-2020-13365?

CVE-2020-13365 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2020-13365 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (61st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2020-13365?

CVE-2020-13365 primarily affects Zyxel Nas326 Firmware. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2020-13365?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2020-13365 published?

CVE-2020-13365 was published on 2020-08-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2020-13365

CVE-2020-13365 is a high-severity vulnerability in Zyxel Nas326 Firmware with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-287.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
CVSS v2: 9.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (61st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-287
Affected product: Zyxel Nas326 Firmware
Published: 2020-08-06
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Certain Zyxel products have a locally accessible binary that allows a non-root user to generate a password for an undocumented user account that can be used for a TELNET session as root. This affects NAS520 V5.21(AASZ.4)C0, V5.21(AASZ.0)C0, V5.11(AASZ.3)C0, and V5.11(AASZ.0)C0; NAS542 V5.11(ABAG.0)C0, V5.20(ABAG.1)C0, and V5.21(ABAG.3)C0; NSA325 v2_V4.81(AALS.0)C0 and V4.81(AAAJ.1)C0; NSA310 4.22(AFK.0)C0 and 4.22(AFK.1)C0; NAS326 V5.21(AAZF.8)C0, V5.11(AAZF.4)C0, V5.11(AAZF.2)C0, and V5.11(AAZF.3)C0; NSA310S V4.75(AALH.2)C0; NSA320S V4.75(AANV.2)C0 and V4.75(AANV.1)C0; NSA221 V4.41(AFM.1)C0; and NAS540 V5.21(AATB.5)C0 and V5.21(AATB.3)C0.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2020-13365?: Certain Zyxel products have a locally accessible binary that allows a non-root user to generate a password for an undocumented user account that can be used for a TELNET session as root. This affects NAS520 V5.21(AASZ.4)C0, V5.21(AASZ.0)C0, V5.11(AASZ.3)C0, and V5.11(AASZ.0)C0; NAS542 V5.11(ABAG.0)C0, V5.20(ABAG.1)C0, and V5.21(ABAG.3)C0; NSA325 v2_V4.81(AALS.0)C0 and V4.81(AAAJ.1)C0; NSA310 4.22(AFK.0)C0 and 4.22(AFK.1)C0; NAS326 V5.21(AAZF.8)C0, V5.11(AAZF.4)C0, V5.11(AAZF.2)C0, and V5.11(AAZF.3)C0; NSA310S V4.75(AALH.2)C0; NSA320S V4.75(AANV.2)C0 and V4.75(AANV.1)C0; NSA221 V4.41(AFM.1)C0; and NAS540 V5.21(AATB.5)C0 and V5.21(AATB.3)C0.
How severe is CVE-2020-13365?: CVE-2020-13365 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.8, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2020-13365 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (61st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2020-13365?: CVE-2020-13365 primarily affects Zyxel Nas326 Firmware. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2020-13365?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2020-13365 published?: CVE-2020-13365 was published on 2020-08-06 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:o:zyxel:nas326_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:zyxel:nas520_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:zyxel:nas540_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:zyxel:nas542_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Zyxel Nas326 Firmware

CVE-2024-6342 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): **UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED** A command injection vulnerability in the export-cgi program of Zyxel NAS326 firmware…
CVE-2024-29974 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): ** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** The remote code execution vulnerability in the CGI program “file_upload-cgi” in…
CVE-2024-29973 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): ** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** The command injection vulnerability in the “setCookie” parameter in Zyxel NAS326…
CVE-2024-29972 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): ** UNSUPPORTED WHEN ASSIGNED ** The command injection vulnerability in the CGI program "remote_help-cgi" in Zyxel…
CVE-2023-4474 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): The improper neutralization of special elements in the WSGI server of the Zyxel NAS326 firmware version…
CVE-2023-4473 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): A command injection vulnerability in the web server of the Zyxel NAS326 firmware version V5.21(AAZF.14)C0 and NAS542…

All CVEs affecting Zyxel Nas326 Firmware →

Other CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities

CVE-2026-101077 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A flaw has been found in Netcore NR289-GE 1.4.5102. This impacts the function process_request of the component boa_temp…
CVE-2026-100886 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability was identified in Seetong T8108, T8108P, T8116 and T8232 4.6.1.4-build202604241011. The affected…
CVE-2026-77244 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): MCP Atlassian is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Atlassian products (Confluence and Jira). Prior to 0.22.0,…
CVE-2026-94493 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability was detected in Gigatech PDV5701 1.0.31_240305_112640. This issue affects some unknown processing of…
CVE-2026-83099 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Vulnerability in the Oracle Forms product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: Forms Services, C/S, Charmode).…
CVE-2026-83059 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Vulnerability in the Oracle Internet Directory product of Oracle Fusion Middleware (component: OID LDAP Server).…

Browse all CWE-287 (Improper Authentication) vulnerabilities →