CVE-2023-20231: Cisco IOS XE Software · OS Command Injection
Affects Cisco IOS XE SoftwareSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 8.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 06:26 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 62% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 27 Sep 2023
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 2026-10-26.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
European organizations should immediately identify all Cisco IOS XE devices running affected versions and prioritize patching with Cisco's latest software releases that address CVE-2023-20231. Since no direct patch links are provided, organizations must consult Cisco's official advisories and support channels for updates. In parallel, restrict access to the web UI interface to trusted management networks and implement strong multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all administrative accounts, especially Lobby Ambassador accounts. Regularly audit and monitor account usage and credentials to detect unauthorized access attempts. Employ network segmentation to isolate management interfaces from general user networks and deploy intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS) to identify suspicious command injection attempts. Additionally, consider disabling or removing unused or non-default accounts like Lobby Ambassador if not required. Conduct thorough security awareness training to reduce the risk of credential compromise. Finally, maintain comprehensive logging and incident response plans to quickly respond to any exploitation attempts.
Description
CVE-2023-20231 is a high-severity OS command injection vulnerability in the web UI of Cisco IOS XE Software. It allows an authenticated remote attacker with Lobby Ambassador account credentials to execute arbitrary CLI commands at privilege level 15 due to insufficient input validation. The vulnerability affects numerous IOS XE versions across the 16.12, 17.x, and 17.9 branches. Exploitation does not require user interaction but does require valid credentials for a non-default account. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability poses significant risks to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected devices and networks.