CVE-2023-1778Known exploitationNetwork attack vector

Superuser command execution via unchanged default credentials

Published Apr 27, 2023 · Updated Jan 30, 2025

Improper authentication in GajShield Data Security Firewall 4.5 through 4.27, except 4.21, allows remote attackers to gain superuser access. The web management interface and exposed SSH service accept the factory username and password without requiring an initial credential change. Network reachability to either administrative service is sufficient for unauthenticated superuser access and arbitrary command execution.

CVSS severity10.0
Critical
EPSS probability1.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper authentication in GajShield Data Security Firewall 4.5 through 4.27, except 4.21, allows remote attackers to gain superuser access. The web management interface and exposed SSH service accept the factory username and password without requiring an initial credential change. Network reachability to either administrative service is sufficient for unauthenticated superuser access and arbitrary command execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-1778
Published
Apr 27, 2023
Updated
Jan 30, 2025
Vendor
GajShield
Product
GajShield Data Security Firewall
Classifications
CWE-522, CWE-287, T1078.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 30, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.5 <4.28

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

GajShield · GajShield Data Security Firewallversion=4.5 <4.28

Published CVSS scores

9.8National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
10.0Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In)CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-522Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1078.001Valid Accounts: Default Accounts

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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

Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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