CVE-2023-28381Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Root command execution via unsanitized debug parameter

Published Oct 11, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

OS command injection in Peplink Surf SOHO firmware 6.3.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute root commands through admin.cgi. The MVPN_trial_init handler copies the debug POST parameter into a shell command without neutralizing metacharacters before passing it to system(). Reachability requires write privileges and either MVPN smoothing or bonding mode; successful injection runs as root.

CVSS severity7.2
High
EPSS probability5.91%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

OS command injection in Peplink Surf SOHO firmware 6.3.5 allows remote authenticated users to execute root commands through admin.cgi. The MVPN_trial_init handler copies the debug POST parameter into a shell command without neutralizing metacharacters before passing it to system(). Reachability requires write privileges and either MVPN smoothing or bonding mode; successful injection runs as root.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28381
Published
Oct 11, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Peplink
Product
Surf SOHO MK3
Classifications
CWE-78, T1059
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 11, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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=v6.3.5 (in QEMU)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Peplink · Surf SOHO MK3version=v6.3.5 (in QEMU)
Peplink · Pepwave Surf SOHOversion=6.3.5

Published CVSS scores

7.2Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1059Command and Scripting Interpreter

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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