How severe is CVE-2023-20268?

CVE-2023-20268 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability low.

Is CVE-2023-20268 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (15th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-20268?

CVE-2023-20268 primarily affects Cisco Wireless Lan Controller Software. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-20268?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2023-20268 published?

CVE-2023-20268 was published on 2023-09-27 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-20268

CVE-2023-20268 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Cisco Wireless Lan Controller Software with a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7. 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-400.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 4.7)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (15th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-400
Affected product: Cisco Wireless Lan Controller Software
Published: 2023-09-27
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

A vulnerability in the packet processing functionality of Cisco access point (AP) software could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to exhaust resources on an affected device.  This vulnerability is due to insufficient management of resources when handling certain types of traffic. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a series of specific wireless packets to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to consume resources on an affected device. A sustained attack could lead to the disruption of the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) tunnel and intermittent loss of wireless client traffic.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-20268?: A vulnerability in the packet processing functionality of Cisco access point (AP) software could allow an unauthenticated, adjacent attacker to exhaust resources on an affected device.  This vulnerability is due to insufficient management of resources when handling certain types of traffic. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a series of specific wireless packets to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to consume resources on an affected device. A sustained attack could lead to the disruption of the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) tunnel and intermittent loss of wireless client traffic.
How severe is CVE-2023-20268?: CVE-2023-20268 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 4.7, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over an adjacent network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability low.
Is CVE-2023-20268 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (15th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-20268?: CVE-2023-20268 primarily affects Cisco Wireless Lan Controller Software. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-20268?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2023-20268 published?: CVE-2023-20268 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-ap-dos-capwap-DDMCZS4m

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:o:cisco:wireless_lan_controller_software:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:catalyst_9800_embedded_wireless_controller_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_150ax_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:cisco:business_151axm_firmware:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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