CVE-2023-48643Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Unauthenticated command execution via TACACS+ field substitution

Published May 16, 2024 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

OS command injection in Shrubbery Networks tac_plus 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x through F4.0.4.28 allows remote attackers to execute shell commands. The pre_authorization path substitutes unvalidated TACACS+ packet fields into a configured command before my_popen passes the result to /bin/sh -c. Exploitation requires a known username with a before or after authorization directive; no password is needed when no pre-shared secret is configured.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.10%
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 Shrubbery Networks tac_plus 2.x, 3.x, and 4.x through F4.0.4.28 allows remote attackers to execute shell commands. The pre_authorization path substitutes unvalidated TACACS+ packet fields into a configured command before my_popen passes the result to /bin/sh -c. Exploitation requires a known username with a before or after authorization directive; no password is needed when no pre-shared secret is configured.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-48643
Published
May 16, 2024
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Shrubbery Networks
Product
tac_plus
Classifications
CWE-94, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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 <=f_4.0.4.28

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Shrubbery Networks · tac_plusversion=0 <=f_4.0.4.28

Published CVSS scores

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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code 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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