Evidence used
- No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
- EPSS is 0.86% for the current model date.
BlackTreeCVE IntelligenceFull vulnerability report · 2023
CVE-2023-20046High confidence
A vulnerability in the key-based SSH authentication feature of Cisco StarOS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device
Cisco · Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software
Official source article: Cisco CISCO-SA-STAROS-SSH-PRIVESC-BMWEJC3H ↗. Check the applicable product and release in the original source.
8.8HighCVSS 3.1
Within 7 days
Fix not verifiedHigh technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
R
Open reassessment dashboard →Operational reassessment
Published severity in operational context
Published severityHigh→Operational priority:High, unchanged from published severity.unchanged
Compensating controls
- Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
- Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.
Verification
- Confirm that the asset runs Cisco Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software and falls inside the recorded affected range.
- Recheck the vendor advisory before scheduling a change because no verified fixed version is currently retained.
- Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
- Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Fix not verified01
What, why and how
A vulnerability in the key-based SSH authentication feature of Cisco StarOS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a valid low-privileged SSH key to an affected device from a host that has an IP address that is configured as the source for a high-privileged user account. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected device through SSH as a high-privileged user. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
What
A vulnerability in the key-based SSH authentication feature of Cisco StarOS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a valid low-privileged SSH key to an affected device from a host that has an IP address that is configured as the source for a high-privileged user account. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected device through SSH as a high-privileged user. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
Why
The product performs authentication based on the name of a resource being accessed, or the name of the actor performing the access, but it does not properly check all possible names for that resource or actor.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.
What
A vulnerability in the key-based SSH authentication feature of Cisco StarOS Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied credentials. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending a valid low-privileged SSH key to an affected device from a host that has an IP address that is configured as the source for a high-privileged user account. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to log in to the affected device through SSH as a high-privileged user. There are workarounds that address this vulnerability.
Why
The product performs authentication based on the name of a resource being accessed, or the name of the actor performing the access, but it does not properly check all possible names for that resource or actor.
How
An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may gain additional privileges.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation No confirmed evidence
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
Public PoC / exploit material None recorded
?
Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.
- Likely attack path
- a network path → Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name → gain additional privileges
- Attack surface
- Network
- Privileges required
- Low: a basic authenticated account is required
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
- Security boundary
- Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
- Weakness
?
CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness. - CWE-289 ↗
CWE-289: Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name. The product performs authentication based on the name of a resource being accessed, or the name of the actor performing the access, but it does not properly check all possible names for that resource or actor.
- CVSS vector
?
CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HCommon Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.- Post-exploitation / living off the land
- Stolen credentials, tokens and legitimate administration functions may provide continued access without deploying a large custom toolset.
03
Patch and workaround
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
- Status
?
Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change. - Fix not verified
- Affected
- Cisco ASR 5000 Series Software: 21.11.0, 21.11.1, 21.11.2, 21.11.3, 21.11.10, 21.11.11, 21.11.12, 21.11.13, 21.11.14, 21.11.4, 21.11.5, 21.11.6, 21.11.7, 21.11.8, 21.11.9, 21.11.15, 21.11.16, 21.11.17, 21.11.18, 21.11.19, 21.11.20, 21.11.21, 21.12.0, 21.12.1, 21.12.2, 21.12.3, 21.12.4, 21.12.5, 21.12.6, 21.12.10, 21.12.11, 21.12.12, 21.12.13, 21.12.14, 21.12.16, 21.12.17, 21.12.18, 21.12.7, 21.12.8, 21.12.9, 21.12.19, 21.12.20, 21.12.21, 21.12.22, 21.12.15, 21.13.0, 21.13.1, 21.13.2, 21.13.3, 21.13.4, 21.13.10, 21.13.11, 21.13.12, 21.13.13, 21.13.14, 21.13.15, 21.13.16, 21.13.17, 21.13.18, 21.13.19, 21.13.20, 21.13.5, 21.13.6, 21.13.7, 21.13.8, 21.13.9, 21.13.21, 21.14.0, 21.14.1, 21.14.10, 21.14.11, 21.14.12, 21.14.16, 21.14.17, 21.14.19, 21.14.2, 21.14.20, 21.14.3, 21.14.4, 21.14.5, 21.14.6, 21.14.7, 21.14.8, 21.14.9, 21.14.b12, 21.14.b13, 21.14.b14, 21.14.b15, 21.14.b17, 21.14.b18, 21.14.b19, 21.14.b20, 21.14.b21, 21.14.22, 21.14.b22, 21.14.23, 21.15.0, 21.15.1, 21.15.10, 21.15.11, 21.15.12, 21.15.13, 21.15.14, 21.15.15, 21.15.16, 21.15.17, 21.15.18, 21.15.19, 21.15.2, 21.15.20, 21.15.21, 21.15.22, 21.15.24, 21.15.25, 21.15.26, 21.15.27, 21.15.28, 21.15.29, 21.15.3, 21.15.30, 21.15.32, 21.15.33, 21.15.36, 21.15.37, 21.15.39, 21.15.4, 21.15.40, 21.15.41, 21.15.5, 21.15.6, 21.15.7, 21.15.8, 21.15.43, 21.15.45, 21.15.46, 21.15.47, 21.15.48, 21.15.51, 21.15.52, 21.15.53, 21.15.54, 21.15.55, 21.15.57, 21.15.58, 21.15.59, 21.15.60, 21.16.2, 21.16.3, 21.16.4, 21.16.5, 21.16.c10, 21.16.c11, 21.16.c12, 21.16.c13, 21.16.c9, 21.16.d0, 21.16.d1, 21.16.6, 21.16.c14, 21.16.7, 21.16.c15, 21.16.8, 21.16.c16, 21.16.10, 21.16.9, 21.16.c17, 21.16.c18, 21.16.c19, 21.17.0, 21.17.1, 21.17.2, 21.17.3, 21.17.4, 21.17.5, 21.17.6, 21.17.7, 21.17.8, 21.17.10, 21.17.11, 21.17.9, 21.17.12, 21.17.13, 21.17.14, 21.17.15, 21.17.16, 21.17.17, 21.17.18, 21.17.19, 21.18.0, 21.18.1, 21.18.2, 21.18.3, 21.18.4, 21.18.5, 21.18.11, 21.18.6, 21.18.7, 21.18.8, 21.18.9, 21.18.12, 21.18.13, 21.18.14, 21.18.15, 21.18.16, 21.18.17, 21.18.18, 21.18.19, 21.18.20, 21.18.21, 21.18.22, 21.18.23, 21.18.24, 21.18.25, 21.18.26, 21.19.0, 21.19.1, 21.19.2, 21.19.3, 21.19.n2, 21.19.4, 21.19.5, 21.19.n3, 21.19.n4, 21.19.6, 21.19.7, 21.19.8, 21.19.n5, 21.19.10, 21.19.9, 21.19.n6, 21.19.n7, 21.19.n8, 21.19.11, 21.19.n10, 21.19.n11, 21.19.n12, 21.19.n13, 21.19.n14, 21.19.n15, 21.19.n16, 21.19.n9, 21.19.n17, 21.19.n18, 21.20.0, 21.20.1, 21.20.SV1, 21.20.SV3, 21.20.SV5, 21.20.2, 21.20.3, 21.20.4, 21.20.5, 21.20.6, 21.20.7, 21.20.8, 21.20.9, 21.20.k6, 21.20.10, 21.20.11, 21.20.k7, 21.20.u8, 21.20.12, 21.20.13, 21.20.14, 21.20.k8, 21.20.p9, 21.20.15, 21.20.16, 21.20.17, 21.20.18, 21.20.19, 21.20.20, 21.20.21, 21.20.22, 21.20.23, 21.20.24, 21.20.25, 21.20.26, 21.20.28, 21.20.29, 21.20.30, 21.20.c22, 21.20.31, 21.20.32, 21.20.33, 21.20.34, 21.20.35, 21.20.27, 21.20.SV2, 21.21.0, 21.21.1, 21.21.2, 21.21.3, 21.21.KS2, 21.22.0, 21.22.n2, 21.22.n3, 21.22.3, 21.22.4, 21.22.5, 21.22.uj3, 21.22.11, 21.22.6, 21.22.7, 21.22.8, 21.22.n4, 21.22.n5, 21.22.ua0, 21.22.ua2, 21.22.ua3, 21.22.ua5, 21.22.12, 21.22.13, 21.22.n10, 21.22.n11, 21.22.n12, 21.22.n6, 21.22.n7, 21.22.n8, 21.22.n9, 21.22.n13, 21.23.0, 21.23.1, 21.23.10, 21.23.11, 21.23.12, 21.23.13, 21.23.14, 21.23.15, 21.23.16, 21.23.17, 21.23.2, 21.23.3, 21.23.4, 21.23.5, 21.23.6, 21.23.7, 21.23.8, 21.23.9, 21.23.b2, 21.23.b3, 21.23.c16, 21.23.c17, 21.23.n6, 21.23.n7, 21.23.n9, 21.23.18, 21.23.19, 21.23.21, 21.23.22, 21.23.23, 21.23.24, 21.23.25, 21.23.26, 21.23.27, 21.23.29, 21.23.30, 21.23.c18, 21.23.n10, 21.23.n11, 21.23.n8, 21.23.yn14, 21.24.0, 21.24.1, 21.24.2, 21.24.3, 21.25.0, 21.25.3, 21.25.4, 21.25.5, 21.25.10, 21.25.11, 21.25.12, 21.25.13, 21.25.14, 21.25.6, 21.25.7, 21.25.8, 21.25.9, 21.26.0, 21.26.1, 21.26.10, 21.26.13, 21.26.14, 21.26.15, 21.26.3, 21.26.5, 21.26.6, 21.26.7, 21.26.17, 21.27.0, 21.27.1, 21.27.2, 21.27.3, 21.27.4, 21.27.5, 21.27.m0, 21.28.0, 21.28.1, 21.28.2, 21.28.m0, 21.28.m1, 21.28.m2, 21.28.m3
- 1 additional product group retained in the authoritative source
- Fixed
- No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
- Action
- No verified patch reference is present in the current structured sources. Check the vendor advisory before making a change.
- Workaround
- No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04
Evidence and provenance
Published 9 May 2023 · Last source change 2 Aug 2024, 08:57 UTC · CWE-289 · Authentication Bypass by Alternate Name
CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceCNA
EPSS source FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
?
The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2023-24225
Product sourceCNA
Remediation sourceCVE/CNA references
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment
Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.
Material change intelligence
View recent updates ↗What changed after publication
No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
- CVE
- Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
- CVSS
- Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
- EPSS
- Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
- CWE
- Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
- CNA
- CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
- CISA ADP
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
- NVD
- National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
- CERT / CSIRT
- A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
- PoC
- Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
- CSAF
- Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
- LoTL
- Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.