CVE-2020-23648Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Administrator takeover via unauthenticated password update

Published Oct 19, 2022 · Updated May 9, 2025

Authentication bypass in ASUS RT-N12E firmware 2.0.0.39 allows remote attackers to change the administrator password without credentials. The system.asp form posts attacker-supplied newpass and confpass values to start_apply.htm, which accepts them without checking authentication. ASUS states that only devices in default status are exposed and that completing initial credential setup removes the condition.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.99%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in ASUS RT-N12E firmware 2.0.0.39 allows remote attackers to change the administrator password without credentials. The system.asp form posts attacker-supplied newpass and confpass values to start_apply.htm, which accepts them without checking authentication. ASUS states that only devices in default status are exposed and that completing initial credential setup removes the condition.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-23648
Published
Oct 19, 2022
Updated
May 9, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-306, T1098
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 19, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 9, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-306Missing Authentication for Critical Function
T1098Account Manipulation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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