CVE-2023-20012

Physical authentication bypass via faulty password validation

Published Feb 23, 2023 · Updated Oct 25, 2024

Authentication bypass in Cisco Nexus 9300-FX3 FEX with UCS Software 4.2 before 4.2(2d) allows physically proximate attackers to reboot the device. The CLI console password-validation function improperly accepts an unauthenticated login, exposing a limited command set on the FEX. Exploitation requires physical console-port access and FEX mode with UCS 6400 or 6500 Series Fabric Interconnects; the bounded consequence is a device reboot and service interruption.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.29%
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 Cisco Nexus 9300-FX3 FEX with UCS Software 4.2 before 4.2(2d) allows physically proximate attackers to reboot the device. The CLI console password-validation function improperly accepts an unauthenticated login, exposing a limited command set on the FEX. Exploitation requires physical console-port access and FEX mode with UCS 6400 or 6500 Series Fabric Interconnects; the bounded consequence is a device reboot and service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20012
Published
Feb 23, 2023
Updated
Oct 25, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Unified Computing System (Managed)
Classifications
CWE-287, T1499
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 25, 2024Record 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=n/a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Unified Computing System (Managed)version=n/a

Published CVSS scores

5.3Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:X/RL:X/RC:X
4.6NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-287Improper Authentication
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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