CVE-2023-27992 — Zyxel Multiple NAS Devices Command Injection Vulnerability
The pre-authentication command injection vulnerability in the Zyxel NAS326 firmware versions prior to V5.21(AAZF.14)C0, NAS540 firmware versions prior to V5.21(AATB.11)C0, and NAS542 firmware versions prior to V5.21(ABAG.11)C0 could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute some operating system (OS) commands remotely by sending a crafted HTTP request.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- Confirmed exploitation (CISA KEV)+35
- EPSS 82.8% (30-day exploitation probability)+15
- Technical severity (critical)+10
- Automatable exploitation (SSVC)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
CISA SSVC assessment CISA
Three decision points CISA publishes for the CVEs it assesses (SSVC 2.0.3). A stakeholder decision, not a severity score.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — www.zyxel.com (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
CISA required action CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal deadline: Jul 14, 2023 — passed 1189 day(s) ago
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Zyxel Nas326 Firmware, Zyxel Nas540 Firmware, Zyxel Nas542 Firmware).
- Treat as emergency remediation: the CVE is in CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- EPSS ahead of 100% of scored CVEs: prioritize it in the patch queue.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (injection), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zyxel | Nas326 Firmware | < 5.21\(aazf.14\)c0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Nas326 Firmware | version < V5.21(AAZF.14)C0 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Zyxel | Nas540 Firmware | < 5.21\(aatb.11\)c0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Nas540 Firmware | version < V5.21(AATB.11)C0 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Zyxel | Nas542 Firmware | < 5.21\(abag.11\)c0 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Nas542 Firmware | version < V5.21(ABAG.11)C0 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | 3.9 | 5.9 | security@zyxel.com.tw via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | Zyxel via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: security@zyxel.com.tw) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
CISA KEV details CISA
CISA lists a CVE once it has evidence of exploitation against real targets.
CISA records ransomware use only for campaigns it has confirmed, so “Unknown” means unrecorded, not ruled out. The deadline binds US federal agencies; for everyone else it is a reference date.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 12, 2026 → Oct 14, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 82.83%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Look for parameters with command/query metacharacters and unexpected child processes of the service.
- Hunt retroactively in logs from before Jun 23, 2023 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · zyxel/nas326 firmware, zyxel/nas540 firmware, zyxel/nas542 firmware
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Fix documented
- Affected products added · zyxel/nas326 firmware, zyxel/nas540 firmware, zyxel/nas542 firmware
- CVSS changed · 9.8
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Added to CISA KEV (detected)
- Record created in this database
- 2023
- Added to CISA KEV catalog
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
4 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2020-9054 Zyxel Multiple NAS Devices OS Command Injection Vulnerability KEV Mar 4, 2020
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2023-27992 is "Zyxel Multiple NAS Devices Command Injection Vulnerability", rated Critical. It affects Nas326 Firmware (Zyxel); versions are in the scope table. It is in CISA KEV: there is evidence of real-world exploitation. CVSS 9.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 82.83% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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