CVE-2023-20198
Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability
- Published
- Oct 16, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Assigning CNA
- cisco
- Evidence observed
- Oct 16, 2023
Primary CVSS
nvd · CVSS 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HHigh · next 30 days
- Percentile
- 99.9%
- Model date
- Oct 15, 2026
EPSS is a statistical estimate, not a certainty or a measure of impact. Combine it with CVSS, KEV status, exposure and your environment.
CISA Known Exploited
This CVE appears in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Summary
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.
Sources
modules/auxiliary/admin/http/cisco_ios_xe_cli_exec_cve_2023_20198.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- verification: check_not_declared($.auxiliary_admin/http/cisco_ios_xe_cli_exec_cve_2023_20198.check)
modules/auxiliary/admin/http/cisco_ios_xe_os_exec_cve_2023_20273.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- verification: check_not_declared($.auxiliary_admin/http/cisco_ios_xe_os_exec_cve_2023_20273.check)
modules/exploits/linux/misc/cisco_ios_xe_rce.rb
Metasploit Framework modulesDeclared conditions
- platform: Linux,Unix($.exploit_linux/misc/cisco_ios_xe_rce.platform)
- verification: check_declared($.exploit_linux/misc/cisco_ios_xe_rce.check)
http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-20198.yaml
Nuclei TemplatesDeclared conditions
- network: http($.protocol_keys)
- verification: word($.matchers[*].type)
Responsible use
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