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CVE-2023-20273 is a post-authentication command injection vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software. The flaw is caused by insufficient input validation in the web management interface, allowing a remote authenticated attacker to submit crafted input that is passed to the underlying operating system. Successful exploitation enables injection and execution of commands on the device with root privileges. In observed attack chains, the vulnerability has frequently been used after CVE-2023-20198 to turn unauthorized administrative access into full operating-system-level compromise of affected Cisco IOS XE devices with the web UI enabled.
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4 valid exploits after Mallory filtered fakes, detection scripts, and README-only repos (1 hidden).
This repository is a small Cisco IOS XE exploitation toolkit focused on the 2023 Web UI/WSMA vulnerability cluster. It contains 4 files: a minimal README and three Python scripts. scripts/exp.py and scripts/poc.py are effectively duplicates: both are standalone command-line exploit scripts that take a target URL and command, then send crafted SOAP envelopes to the encoded WSMA endpoint /%2577ebui_wsma_http or /%2577ebui_wsma_https. They support two modes: 'common' for execCLI command execution and 'super' for configApply/privileged configuration commands. Returned XML is parsed with xmltodict and command output or error information is printed. scripts/exploit.py is the more capable staged exploit. Based on visible code and comments, it targets CVE-2023-20273 and references CVE-2023-20198 as part of the broader attack chain against Cisco IOS XE Web UI. It abuses /webui/rest/softwareMgmt/installAdd by injecting shell syntax into the JSON ipaddress field. The script includes helpers for base64-encoded command execution, writing files to /var/www/ for retrieval through /webui/, and dropping/executing a self-deleting bash reverse shell that connects back to an attacker-controlled host and port. It also references /usr/binos/conf/mcp_chvrf.sh to execute shell content in the global VRF context. Overall purpose: provide practical remote code execution against vulnerable Cisco IOS XE devices, ranging from direct WSMA CLI execution to staged Web UI command injection with output retrieval and reverse shell capability. The code is operational rather than just demonstrative, but it is not part of a major exploitation framework.
This repository contains a single Metasploit module (modules/exploits/linux/misc/cisco_ios_xe_rce.rb) that exploits a chain of two vulnerabilities (CVE-2023-20198 and CVE-2023-20273) in Cisco IOS XE devices with the Web UI enabled. The exploit is unauthenticated and allows remote code execution as root by leveraging flaws in the Web UI's authentication and privilege escalation mechanisms. The module is highly weaponized, supporting customizable command payloads (including reverse shells and Meterpreter) and is designed for operational use within the Metasploit framework. The code interacts with the target's HTTP Web UI endpoints and manipulates files in the /var/www/ directory to verify and achieve code execution. The exploit targets a wide range of IOS XE versions (16.1.1 through 17.12.1a and others as listed in the module). The repository is structured as a single Ruby file, following standard Metasploit module conventions, and is intended for use by penetration testers and red teamers to demonstrate or leverage these critical vulnerabilities.
This repository contains a single Metasploit auxiliary module targeting Cisco IOS XE devices vulnerable to CVE-2023-20198 and CVE-2023-20273. The module exploits the vulnerabilities in two stages: first, it creates a new admin user (if credentials are not provided) using CVE-2023-20198, then it leverages CVE-2023-20273 to execute arbitrary OS commands as root. The output of the command is written to a temporary file in /var/www/ on the target, which is then retrieved via the device's web interface (e.g., /webui/<output_file>). After execution, the module attempts to clean up by deleting the output file and removing the created admin user. The exploit is operational and allows attackers to run arbitrary commands on a wide range of Cisco IOS XE versions, provided the Web UI is exposed. The code is written in Ruby and is designed to be used within the Metasploit framework.
This repository provides a Proof-of-Concept (PoC) exploit for CVE-2023-20273, a command injection vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE WebUI. The repository contains two files: a detailed README.md with usage instructions and exploit.py, a Python script implementing the exploit logic. The exploit targets Cisco IOS XE devices with the WebUI enabled and requires valid credentials. It works by sending a crafted POST request to the /webui/rest/softwareMgmt/installAdd endpoint, injecting arbitrary shell commands via the ipaddress field. The script supports both direct command execution and reverse shell payloads, with options to retrieve command output via the target's web server. The exploit is confirmed to work on several Cisco Catalyst models and IOS XE versions, with filesystem space being a potential limiting factor. The code is a functional PoC, not weaponized, and is intended for security testing and research.
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30 sources tracked across advisories, community write-ups, and news. New activity surfaces here as Mallory finds it.
A publicly disclosed Cisco IOS XE vulnerability cited as part of the CVE set Salt Typhoon used to gain/expand access in telecom networks.
A second Cisco IOS XE zero-day vulnerability mentioned in related content as being actively exploited in the wild.
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE that, when chained with CVE-2023-20198, allows attackers to gain full administrator access to affected devices.
A vulnerability in Cisco IOS XE that, when chained with CVE-2023-20198, allows attackers to gain full administrator access to affected devices.
Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.
Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.
Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.
YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.
Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.
Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.