CVE-2023-20186

HIGH

Cisco IOS - Authenticated Improper Authorization via SCP Command Processing

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 1 public exploit for CVE-2023-20186. PoCs published by hendrikvb.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository provides a detailed technical analysis of CVE-2023-20186, a command authorization bypass vulnerability in Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software. It explains the exploitation via SCP transactions, AAA misconfigurations, and mitigation steps.

Description

A vulnerability in the Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker to bypass command authorization and copy files to or from the file system of an affected device using the Secure Copy Protocol (SCP). This vulnerability is due to incorrect processing of SCP commands in AAA command authorization checks. An attacker with valid credentials and level 15 privileges could exploit this vulnerability by using SCP to connect to an affected device from an external machine. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to obtain or change the configuration of the affected device and put files on or retrieve files from the affected device.

Exploits (1)

gitlab WRITEUP
by hendrikvb · poc
https://gitlab.com/hendrikvb/cve-2023-20186

This repository provides a detailed technical analysis of CVE-2023-20186, a command authorization bypass vulnerability in Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software. It explains the exploitation via SCP transactions, AAA misconfigurations, and mitigation steps.

Classification
Writeup 95%
Attack Type
Auth Bypass
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Cisco IOS and IOS XE Software
Auth required
Prerequisites: low privilege user credentials · SCP enabled on the device · specific AAA misconfiguration
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 23, 2026 Full analysis →

Scores

CVSS v3 8.0
EPSS 0.0059
EPSS Percentile 43.4%
Attack Vector NETWORK
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA SSVC

Vulnrichment
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact total

Details

CWE
CWE-285
Status published
Products (50)
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)ex
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)ey
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)ey1
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)ey2
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)ez
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)se
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)se1
cisco/ios 12.2\(58\)se2
cisco/ios 12.2\(60\)ez
cisco/ios 12.2\(60\)ez1
... and 40 more
Published Sep 27, 2023
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026