CVE-2023-28771 — Zyxel Multiple Firewalls OS Command Injection Vulnerability
Improper error message handling in Zyxel ZyWALL/USG series firmware versions 4.60 through 4.73, VPN series firmware versions 4.60 through 5.35, USG FLEX series firmware versions 4.60 through 5.35, and ATP series firmware versions 4.60 through 5.35, which could allow an unauthenticated attacker to execute some OS commands remotely by sending crafted packets to an affected device.
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
- Public exploit/PoC (metasploit, github)+18
- EPSS 99.3% (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.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
CISA required action CISA
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
US federal deadline: Jun 21, 2023 — passed 1213 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 ATP series firmware, Zyxel Atp100 Firmware, Zyxel Atp100w 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.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- 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 | ATP series firmware | version 4.60 through 5.35 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Zyxel | Atp100 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Atp100w Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.35 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Atp200 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Atp500 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Atp700 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Atp800 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 100 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 100w Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 200 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 50 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 500 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 50w Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Usg Flex 700 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | USG FLEX series firmware | version 4.60 through 5.35 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Zyxel | VPN series firmware | version 4.60 through 5.35 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Zyxel | Vpn100 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Vpn1000 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Vpn300 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Vpn50 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 5.36 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Zywall Usg 100 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 4.73version 4.73 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | Zywall Usg 310 Firmware | ≥ 4.60 and < 4.73version 4.73 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| Zyxel | ZyWALL/USG series firmware | version 4.60 through 4.73 | 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 | 3.9 | 5.9 | nvd@nist.gov 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.
Public exploits, PoCs and detection templates
Public code that demonstrates or tests the flaw raises the odds of mass exploitation — and Nuclei templates help find vulnerable assets in your environment.
- Zyxel IKE Packet Decoder Unauthenticated Remote Code Execution great Mar 31, 2023
- PoC for CVE-2023-28771 based on Rapid7's excellent writeup ★ 30 May 23, 2023
- JinParkmida/cve-2023-28771-demo ★ 0 Jul 22, 2025
Warning: public PoCs are sometimes disguised malware. Use them only for authorized testing in an isolated environment. This portal does not host exploit code — it only points to the sources.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 12, 2026 → Oct 15, 2026 · 4 reading(s) · max 99.28%
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 May 31, 2023 (KEV listing): exploitation may have started earlier.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · zyxel/zywall/usg series firmware, zyxel/vpn series firmware, zyxel/usg flex series firmware, zyxel/atp series firmware
- SSVC assessment updated
- Record published
- Affected products added · zyxel/atp100 firmware, zyxel/atp100w firmware, zyxel/atp200 firmware, zyxel/atp500 firmware, zyxel/atp700 firmware, zyxe
- 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
5 on the record
- www.zyxel.com/global/en/support/security-advisories/zyxel-security-advisory-for-rem
- www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/172820/Zyxel-IKE-Packet-Decoder-Unauthenticated-Remote-Code-Exe
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-3xvp-8qg2-x43w
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28771
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- High CVE-2026-14818 Path Traversal in Zyxel ATP series firmware Aug 4, 2026
- High CVE-2025-11730 OS Command Injection in Zyxel ATP series firmware Feb 4, 2026
- High CVE-2025-9133 Missing Authorization in Zyxel Zld Oct 21, 2025
- High CVE-2025-8078 OS Command Injection in Zyxel Zld Oct 21, 2025
- Critical CVE-2024-11667 Zyxel Multiple Firewalls Path Traversal Vulnerability KEV Nov 27, 2024
- Critical CVE-2023-33009 Zyxel Multiple Firewalls Buffer Overflow Vulnerability KEV May 24, 2023
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 fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- 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-2023-28771 is "Zyxel Multiple Firewalls OS Command Injection Vulnerability", rated Critical. It affects ATP series 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 99.28% 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.
Comments
Moderated technical discussion. Read the community guidelines.
No comments yet.
Sign in or create an account to comment and suggest corrections.