CVE-2023-20172Network attack vector

Arbitrary file read via crafted HTTP request

Published May 18, 2023 · Updated Oct 24, 2024

Improper input validation in Cisco Identity Services Engine 3.1 and 3.2 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files. The web-based management interface accepts crafted HTTP requests containing certain character sequences without sufficiently validating the input before resolving file access. Administrator-level privileges are required, and successful exploitation exposes operating-system files beyond the administrator's configured access level.

CVSS severity4.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Cisco Identity Services Engine 3.1 and 3.2 allows remote authenticated users to read arbitrary files. The web-based management interface accepts crafted HTTP requests containing certain character sequences without sufficiently validating the input before resolving file access. Administrator-level privileges are required, and successful exploitation exposes operating-system files beyond the administrator's configured access level.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-20172
Published
May 18, 2023
Updated
Oct 24, 2024
Vendor
ClamAV
Product
Cisco Identity Services Engine
Classifications
CWE-602, CWE-20, T1005
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 18, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 24, 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 vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

ClamAV · Cisco Identity Services Engineversion=n/a

Published CVSS scores

4.9Cisco Systems, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
4.9NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-602Client-Side Enforcement of Server-Side Security
CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1005Data from Local System

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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