CVE-2023-28337Public exploit

Malicious firmware installation via hidden update parameter

Published Mar 15, 2023 · Updated Feb 27, 2025

Improper firmware validation in all known NETGEAR RAX30 versions allows remote authenticated users to install modified firmware. The rex_cgi firmware-upload endpoint accepts function=forceFWUpdate, and the image verifier trusts a reproducible hash built with hardcoded prefix and suffix values, bypassing normal validation. Exploitation requires local-network access and router administrator credentials; successful installation replaces trusted device code with attacker-controlled firmware.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.72%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper firmware validation in all known NETGEAR RAX30 versions allows remote authenticated users to install modified firmware. The rex_cgi firmware-upload endpoint accepts function=forceFWUpdate, and the image verifier trusts a reproducible hash built with hardcoded prefix and suffix values, bypassing normal validation. Exploitation requires local-network access and router administrator credentials; successful installation replaces trusted device code with attacker-controlled firmware.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28337
Published
Mar 15, 2023
Updated
Feb 27, 2025
Vendor
NETGEAR
Product
RAX30
Classifications
CWE-434, T1601.001
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 27, 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=All known versions

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

NETGEAR · RAX30version=All known versions

Published CVSS scores

8.0TenableCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.7NETGEARCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-434Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type
T1601.001Patch System Image

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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