How severe is CVE-2023-20231?

CVE-2023-20231 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-2023-20231 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (50th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-20231?

CVE-2023-20231 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xe. In total, 67 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20231?

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-2023-20231 published?

CVE-2023-20231 was published on 2023-09-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-20231

CVE-2023-20231 is a high-severity vulnerability in Cisco Ios Xe 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-20.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (50th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Cisco Ios Xe
Published: 2023-09-27
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform an injection attack against an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary Cisco IOS XE Software CLI commands with level 15 privileges. Note: This vulnerability is exploitable only if the attacker obtains the credentials for a Lobby Ambassador account. This account is not configured by default.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-20231?: A vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to perform an injection attack against an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary Cisco IOS XE Software CLI commands with level 15 privileges. Note: This vulnerability is exploitable only if the attacker obtains the credentials for a Lobby Ambassador account. This account is not configured by default.
How severe is CVE-2023-20231?: CVE-2023-20231 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-2023-20231 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (50th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-20231?: CVE-2023-20231 primarily affects Cisco Ios Xe. In total, 67 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20231?: 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-2023-20231 published?: CVE-2023-20231 was published on 2023-09-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-webui-cmdij-FzZAeXAy

Affected products (67)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.4a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.5b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.6a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:16.12.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.1w:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.1x:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.1z:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.4a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.4b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.4c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.5a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.5b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.4.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.4.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.4.2a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.5.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.5.1b:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.5.1c:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1.z:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1a:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:ios_xe:17.6.1w:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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