---
title: "CVE-2023-20273: Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection Vulnerability"
url: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-20273/
description: "CVE-2023-20273 (Cisco Cisco IOS XE Web UI): Exploited in the wild (CISA KEV). A vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an…"
type: vulnerability-record
section: "Security Digest"
date_published: 2023-10-24
date_modified: 2026-10-21
publisher: erroneo.us
author: erroneo.us Security Desk
cve: "CVE-2023-20273"
kev: true
cvss: 7.2
epss: 0.92992
license: All rights reserved. Quote with attribution and a link.
---

# CVE-2023-20273: Cisco IOS XE Web UI Command Injection Vulnerability

**Signal:** Exploited: patch now if you run it. CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild. (Computed from CISA KEV, EPSS and CVSS; not an editorial verdict.)

## Should you act?

- Yes, if you run Cisco Cisco IOS XE Web UI. CISA added this CVE to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2023-10-23, which means there is reliable evidence of exploitation in the wild. US federal agencies must remediate by 2023-10-27 ; treat that as the outer limit, not the target.
- EPSS 93.0% , percentile 99.8: FIRST’s model estimates a 93.0% chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 99.8% of all scored CVEs (very high). EPSS is a probability, not a verdict.
- Needs an account (high (admin)). Exposure depends on who can log in.
- Editorial verdict: Act now. Cisco IOS XE Web UI Zero-Day Chain Implants Devices — If any IOS XE device has its HTTP or HTTPS server reachable from an untrusted network and is not on a fixed release, treat it as compromised until proven otherwise; devices with the web UI disabled were never exposed.

## What it is

A vulnerability in the web UI feature of Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to inject commands with the privileges of root. This vulnerability is due to insufficient input validation. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted input to the web UI. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to inject commands to the underlying operating system with root privileges.

## Affected products (CVE record)

- Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software: 16.1.1, 16.1.2, 16.1.3, 16.2.1, 16.2.2, 16.3.1, 16.3.2, 16.3.3, 16.3.1a, 16.3.4, 16.3.5, 16.3.5b

## Severity

- cisco CVSS 3.1: 7.2 `CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`

## Exploitation

- CISA KEV: added 2023-10-23; federal due date 2023-10-27. Known ransomware use: Unknown.
- CISA 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 SSVC assessment: exploitation active , automatable no , technical impact total .
- FIRST EPSS (model of 2026-10-21): 92.99% probability of exploitation activity in the next 30 days; percentile 99.8.

## Sources

- [Listed in CISA KEV notes (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z)
- [CVE.org record CVE-2023-20273](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20273)
- [NVD entry CVE-2023-20273](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20273)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog entry](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20273)

---
Source page: https://erroneo.us/security/cve/CVE-2023-20273/ · Security Digest: https://erroneo.us/security/ · More: https://erroneo.us/llms.txt