CVE-2023-28801Network attack vector

Privilege escalation via improper SAML signature validation

Published Aug 31, 2023 · Updated Oct 1, 2024

Improper SAML signature verification in Zscaler ZIA Admin Portal 6.2 before 6.2r allows remote authenticated users to escalate privileges. The Admin UI accepts a SAML authentication assertion without correctly verifying its cryptographic signature, but the specific validation error is undisclosed. Low-privileged portal access is required, and exploitation grants higher portal privileges with confidentiality and integrity impact but no reported service interruption.

CVSS severity9.6
Critical
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper SAML signature verification in Zscaler ZIA Admin Portal 6.2 before 6.2r allows remote authenticated users to escalate privileges. The Admin UI accepts a SAML authentication assertion without correctly verifying its cryptographic signature, but the specific validation error is undisclosed. Low-privileged portal access is required, and exploitation grants higher portal privileges with confidentiality and integrity impact but no reported service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-28801
Published
Aug 31, 2023
Updated
Oct 1, 2024
Vendor
Zscaler
Product
ZIA Admin Portal
Classifications
CWE-347, T1606.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 31, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 1, 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=6.2 <6.2 (current)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Zscaler · ZIA Admin Portalversion=6.2 <6.2 (current)

Published CVSS scores

9.6Zscaler, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
T1606.002Forge Web Credentials: SAML Tokens

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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