CVE-2023-21414

Secure Boot bypass via unrestricted firmware downgrade

Published Oct 16, 2023 · Updated Nov 8, 2024

Secure Boot bypass in Axis Communications AXIS OS 10.11 through 11.5 allows physically proximate attackers to defeat device-tampering protection. The firmware update path accepts a downgrade to an affected AXIS OS image, so older trusted code can boot despite Secure Boot. Exploitation requires physical access and high-complexity device manipulation; success permits unauthorized firmware execution and loss of boot-chain integrity.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Secure Boot bypass in Axis Communications AXIS OS 10.11 through 11.5 allows physically proximate attackers to defeat device-tampering protection. The firmware update path accepts a downgrade to an affected AXIS OS image, so older trusted code can boot despite Secure Boot. Exploitation requires physical access and high-complexity device manipulation; success permits unauthorized firmware execution and loss of boot-chain integrity.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21414
Published
Oct 16, 2023
Updated
Nov 8, 2024
Vendor
Axis Communications AB
Product
AXIS Q3527-LVE
Classifications
CWE-121, T1542.001
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 16, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 8, 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=10.11 <=11.5
  2. Affected versionversion=AXIS OS 10.11 - 11.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Axis Communications AB · AXIS Q3527-LVEversion=10.11 <=11.5; version=AXIS OS 10.11 - 11.5
Axis Communications AB · AXIS OSversion=10.11 <=11.5; version=AXIS OS 10.11 - 11.5
Axis Communications AB · AXIS A8207-VE Mk IIversion=0 <11.5; version=AXIS OS 11.5 or earlier

Published CVSS scores

7.1Axis Communications ABCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow
T1542.001Pre-OS Boot: System Firmware

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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