CVE-2023-34141 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A command injection vulnerability has been identified in multiple Zyxel firmware versions, potentially allowing attackers to execute OS commands on affected devices. Find out more about this CVE below.

Understanding CVE-2023-34141

This section discusses the details of the CVE-2023-34141 vulnerability affecting Zyxel products.

What is CVE-2023-34141?

CVE-2023-34141 is a command injection vulnerability found in various Zyxel firmware versions, including ATP series, USG FLEX series, USG FLEX 50(W) series, USG20(W)-VPN series, VPN series, NXC2500, and NXC5500. This flaw could be exploited by an unauthenticated LAN-based attacker to run OS commands on a device by deceiving an authorized administrator.

The Impact of CVE-2023-34141

The vulnerability poses a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8 (High). Attackers could potentially execute malicious commands on the affected devices, leading to unauthorized access and control.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-34141

This section provides more technical insights into the CVE-2023-34141 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability exists in the access point (AP) management feature of the affected Zyxel firmware versions, enabling the execution of OS commands by unauthorized attackers.

Affected Systems and Versions

ATP series firmware: 5.00 through 5.36 Patch 2
USG FLEX series firmware: 5.00 through 5.36 Patch 2
USG FLEX 50(W) series firmware: 5.00 through 5.36 Patch 2
USG20(W)-VPN series firmware: 5.00 through 5.36 Patch 2
VPN series firmware: 5.00 through 5.36 Patch 2
NXC2500 firmware: 6.10(AAIG.0) through 6.10(AAIG.3)
NXC5500 firmware: 6.10(AAOS.0) through 6.10(AAOS.4)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by an unauthenticated LAN-based attacker tricking an authorized administrator into adding their IP address to the managed AP list beforehand.

Mitigation and Prevention

Below are the recommended steps to mitigate the CVE-2023-34141 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected firmware versions to the patched releases provided by Zyxel.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly monitor security advisories and patches from Zyxel for any future vulnerabilities.
Conduct security training for administrators to identify and mitigate social engineering attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely application of security patches and updates to all affected Zyxel devices to address the CVE-2023-34141 vulnerability.