CVE-2023-22914Network attack vector

Administrator-authenticated command execution via crafted file upload

Published Apr 24, 2023 · Updated Feb 12, 2025

Path traversal in Zyxel USG FLEX 4.50 through 5.35 and VPN 4.30 through 5.35 firmware allows remote authenticated users to execute OS commands. The account_print.cgi handler fails to confine the destination of a crafted file upload, allowing content to traverse into the tmp directory for command execution. Exploitation requires administrator privileges and an enabled hotspot function; WAN management access is disabled by default.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability1.03%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Path traversal in Zyxel USG FLEX 4.50 through 5.35 and VPN 4.30 through 5.35 firmware allows remote authenticated users to execute OS commands. The account_print.cgi handler fails to confine the destination of a crafted file upload, allowing content to traverse into the tmp directory for command execution. Exploitation requires administrator privileges and an enabled hotspot function; WAN management access is disabled by default.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-22914
Published
Apr 24, 2023
Updated
Feb 12, 2025
Vendor
Zyxel Networks
Product
Zyxel VPN Series Firmware
Classifications
CWE-22, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 24, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 12, 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=4.30 through 5.35

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Zyxel Networks · Zyxel VPN Series Firmwareversion=4.30 through 5.35
Zyxel Networks · Zyxel USG FLEX Series Firmwareversion=4.50 through 5.35

Published CVSS scores

7.2Zyxel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-22Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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