CVE-2023-5960

Authenticated system-file access via hotspot privilege failure

Published Nov 28, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper privilege management in Zyxel USG FLEX 4.50 through 5.37 and VPN 4.30 through 5.37 allows local users to read system files. The hotspot feature fails to restrict authenticated local access to protected system files, but Zyxel has not disclosed the responsible operation. Exploitation requires an authenticated local session and provides file access without reported write, code-execution, or service-interruption effects.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper privilege management in Zyxel USG FLEX 4.50 through 5.37 and VPN 4.30 through 5.37 allows local users to read system files. The hotspot feature fails to restrict authenticated local access to protected system files, but Zyxel has not disclosed the responsible operation. Exploitation requires an authenticated local session and provides file access without reported write, code-execution, or service-interruption effects.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5960
Published
Nov 28, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Zyxel Networks
Product
Zyxel VPN Series Firmware
Classifications
CWE-269, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 28, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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=versions 4.30 through 5.37

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Zyxel Networks · Zyxel VPN Series Firmwareversion=versions 4.30 through 5.37
Zyxel Networks · Zyxel USG FLEX Series Firmwareversion=versions 4.50 through 5.37

Published CVSS scores

5.5Zyxel CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-269Improper Privilege Management
T1005Data from Local System

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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