CVE-2023-4212Public exploit

Root command execution via unsanitized update filename

Published Aug 22, 2023 · Updated Jan 16, 2025

Command injection in Trane XL824, XL850, XL1050, and Pivot thermostats allows physically proximate attackers to execute commands as root. The SoftwareUpgrade.rb service passes an attacker-controlled USB update filename to a shell untar command after a permissive partial regex match, without neutralizing shell metacharacters. Inserting a USB drive containing a crafted, higher-build filename triggers automatic processing and grants complete root control of the thermostat.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability1.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Trane XL824, XL850, XL1050, and Pivot thermostats allows physically proximate attackers to execute commands as root. The SoftwareUpgrade.rb service passes an attacker-controlled USB update filename to a shell untar command after a permissive partial regex match, without neutralizing shell metacharacters. Inserting a USB drive containing a crafted, higher-build filename triggers automatic processing and grants complete root control of the thermostat.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4212
Published
Aug 22, 2023
Updated
Jan 16, 2025
Vendor
Trane Technologies
Product
ComfortLink II XL1050 Thermostat
Classifications
CWE-77, CWE-74, T1059.004
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 16, 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=0 <=5.9.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Trane Technologies · ComfortLink II XL1050 Thermostatversion=0 <=5.9.8
Trane Technologies · ComfortLink II XL850 Thermostatversion=0 <=5.9.8
Trane · Pivot Smart Thermostatversion=0 <=1.8
Trane Technologies · XL824 Thermostatversion=0 <=5.9.8

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8CISA ICS-CERTCVSS:3.1/AV:P/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
T1059.004Command and Scripting Interpreter: Unix Shell

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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