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Findings

CVE-2023-20198

Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Published Oct 16, 2023 · updated Jun 16, 2026 · rockwellautomation allen-bradley stratix 5200 firmware

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.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Oct 16, 2023 · Catalog

    Detected

    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

  2. Oct 16, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Verify that instances of Cisco IOS XE Web UI are in compliance with BOD 23-02 and apply mitigations per vendor instructions. For affected products (Cisco IOS XE Web UI exposed to the internet or to untrusted networks), follow vendor instructions to determine if a system may have been compromised and immediately report positive findings to CISA.

  3. Oct 20, 2023 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Verify that instances of Cisco IOS XE Web UI are in compliance with BOD 23-02 and apply mitigations per vendor instructions. For affected products (Cisco IOS XE Web UI exposed to the internet or to untrusted networks), follow vendor instructions to determine if a system may have been compromised and immediately report positive findings to CISA.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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

Required action

Verify that instances of Cisco IOS XE Web UI are in compliance with BOD 23-02 and apply mitigations per vendor instructions. For affected products (Cisco IOS XE Web UI exposed to the internet or to untrusted networks), follow vendor instructions to determine if a system may have been compromised and immediately report positive findings to CISA.

CISA due date Oct 20, 2023

Affected

  • cpe cisco/ios xeversion unspecified
  • cpe rockwellautomation/allen-bradley stratix 5200 firmwareversion unspecified
  • cpe rockwellautomation/allen-bradley stratix 5800 firmwareversion unspecified
  • vendor Cisco IOS XE Web UIversion unspecified

Sources

  • CISA KEVCVE-2023-20198

    Cisco IOS XE Web UI contains a privilege escalation vulnerability in the web user interface that could allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to create an account with privilege level 15 access. The attacker can then use that account to gain control of the affected device.

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgCVE-2023-20198

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSCVE-2023-20198

    30-day exploitation probability 99.6%

    first.org
  • Metasploit Modulesauxiliary_admin/http/cisco_ios_xe_cli_exec_cve_2023_20198

    Public module reference (normal). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • Metasploit Modulesauxiliary_admin/http/cisco_ios_xe_os_exec_cve_2023_20273

    Public module reference (normal). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • Metasploit Modulesexploit_linux/misc/cisco_ios_xe_rce

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDCVE-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 updating the list of fixed releases and adding the Software Checker. Our investigation has determined that the actors exploited two previou

    nvd.nist.gov

References