CVE-2023-27573Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Superuser access via unchanged default credentials

Published Mar 11, 2026 · Updated Mar 11, 2026

Default credentials in NetBox Docker before 2.5.0 allow remote attackers to gain superuser access through the web interface or API. The deployment's env/netbox.env file supplies the admin user with a fixed password and SUPERUSER_API_TOKEN, and startup creates that superuser without requiring replacement values. Exposure requires the defaults to remain unchanged; the token retains administrative read and write access even after the password is replaced.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.49%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Default credentials in NetBox Docker before 2.5.0 allow remote attackers to gain superuser access through the web interface or API. The deployment's env/netbox.env file supplies the admin user with a fixed password and SUPERUSER_API_TOKEN, and startup creates that superuser without requiring replacement values. Exposure requires the defaults to remain unchanged; the token retains administrative read and write access even after the password is replaced.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27573
Published
Mar 11, 2026
Updated
Mar 11, 2026
Vendor
NetBox Labs
Product
NetBox Docker
Classifications
CWE-798, CWE-1392, T1078.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 11, 2026Record 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=0 <2.5.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NetBox Labs · NetBox Dockerversion=0 <2.5.0

Published CVSS scores

9.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.0MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
CWE-1392Use of Default Credentials
T1078.001Valid Accounts: Default Accounts

Public exploit references

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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