Authenticated command execution via NTP hostname injection
Published Dec 6, 2023 · Updated Oct 21, 2025
OS command injection in FXC AE1021 and AE1021PE 2.0.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands. The /cgi-bin/action handler passes metacharacters from the ntp.general.hostname parameter into an operating-system command. Successful exploitation requires management-interface authentication; observed attacks used default credentials to install Mirai-based malware.
Summary
What happened
OS command injection in FXC AE1021 and AE1021PE 2.0.9 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary commands. The /cgi-bin/action handler passes metacharacters from the ntp.general.hostname parameter into an operating-system command. Successful exploitation requires management-interface authentication; observed attacks used default credentials to install Mirai-based malware.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-49897
- Published
- Dec 6, 2023
- Updated
- Oct 21, 2025
- Vendor
- FXC Inc.
- Product
- AE1021
- Classifications
- CWE-78, T1190, T1059.004
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 6, 2023Exploitation reportedInfectedSlurs Mirai botnet exploitation
- Dec 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 21, 2023Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing
- Oct 21, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2.0.9 and earlier
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- InfectedSlurs FXC command-injection requestfunctional · observed in use
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listingknown exploited catalog
- InfectedSlurs Mirai botnet exploitationbotnet
Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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