---
title: "CVE-2023-20198: Unprotected Alternate Channel | CubePath"
description: "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…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-20198
---

# CVE-2023-20198: Unprotected Alternate Channel | CubePath

## Description

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.

Official description from the CVE record, published by cisco. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20198)

## Key data

### CVSS 3.1 Critical 10.0

Score published by cisco in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

| Metric                 | Value   | What it means                                                                       |
| ---------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Attack vector          | Network | The vulnerable component can be reached over a network, possibly from the Internet. |
| Attack complexity      | Low     | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.               |
| Privileges required    | None    | No account or privileges are needed.                                                |
| User interaction       | None    | No action from any user is needed.                                                  |
| Scope                  | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.                    |
| Confidentiality impact | High    | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.                                     |
| Integrity impact       | High    | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.                             |
| Availability impact    | High    | Serious or total effect on availability.                                            |

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) .

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.99781 (99.8% probability)

Percentile

99.95%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog

Cisco IOS XE Web UI Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

Added to the catalog

Oct 16, 2023

Federal due date

Oct 20, 2023

### CISA assessment as of Oct 23, 2024

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation

Recorded by CISA as active

Automatable

yes

Technical impact

total

### Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license.

- [CWE-420](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/420.html) Unprotected Alternate Channel

## Affected products

Products listed in the CVE record, as the CNA published them.

- Cisco IOS XE Software

  - affected: 16.1.1
  - affected: 16.1.2
  - affected: 16.1.3
  - affected: 16.2.1
  - affected: 16.2.2
  - affected: 16.3.1
  - affected: 16.3.2
  - affected: 16.3.3
  - affected: 16.3.1a
  - affected: 16.3.4
  - affected: 16.3.5
  - affected: 16.3.5b
  - affected: 16.3.6
  - affected: 16.3.7
  - affected: 16.3.8
  - affected: 16.3.9
  - affected: 16.3.10
  - affected: 16.3.11
  - affected: 16.4.1
  - affected: 16.4.2
  - affected: 16.4.3
  - affected: 16.5.1
  - affected: 16.5.1a
  - affected: 16.5.1b
  - affected: 16.5.2
  - and 161 more

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z](https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-iosxe-webui-privesc-j22SaA4z)  (sec.cloudapps.cisco.com)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Oct 27, 2022
2. Added to CISA KEV Oct 16, 2023
3. Record published Oct 16, 2023
4. Record last updated Oct 21, 2025

## Look up another CVE

## About CubePath

CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection.

[Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection)

Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:24 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)