CVE-2023-45209Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Configuration disclosure via unauthenticated download endpoint

Published Apr 17, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Improper access control in Peplink Smart Reader 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to disclose its active configuration via an HTTP request. The unauthenticated download_config.cgi handler copies /etc/masterconfig.applied, compresses and XOR-encodes it, then returns the archive without checking authentication. Exposure includes the administrator username and password hash and can include wireless, network, and SNMP credentials and settings.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Improper access control in Peplink Smart Reader 1.2.0 allows remote attackers to disclose its active configuration via an HTTP request. The unauthenticated download_config.cgi handler copies /etc/masterconfig.applied, compresses and XOR-encodes it, then returns the archive without checking authentication. Exposure includes the administrator username and password hash and can include wireless, network, and SNMP credentials and settings.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45209
Published
Apr 17, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Peplink
Product
Smart Reader
Classifications
CWE-284, T1552.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 17, 2024CVE 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=1.2.0
  2. Affected versionversion=v1.2.0 (in QEMU)

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Peplink · Smart Readerversion=1.2.0; version=v1.2.0 (in QEMU)

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.3Cisco TalosCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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-284Improper Access Control
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo