HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2023-20071
MEDIUM

CVE-2023-20071

CWE-1039Published: November 1, 2023· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

5.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Multiple Cisco products are affected by a vulnerability in the Snort detection engine that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass the configured policies on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to a flaw in the FTP module of the Snort detection engine. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by sending crafted FTP traffic through an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to bypass FTP inspection and deliver a malicious payload.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2023-20071 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

The vulnerability has a "Changed" scope, meaning successful exploitation can impact components beyond the vulnerable component itself — such as the host operating system or adjacent services.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeChanged
Impact
ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityLow
AvailabilityNone
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:L/A:N

Affected Vendors & Products

Cisco4 product(s)
firepower threat defensecyber visionunified threat defensemeraki mx security appliance firmware
snort1 product(s)
snort
Source: NVD CPE · 6 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

NO KNOWN EXPLOITNo public exploit confirmed at this time
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Official Patches & Advisories

All References (2)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2023-20071
CVSS Score5.8 / 10
SeverityMEDIUM
WeaknessCWE-1039
CISA KEVNo
Affected2 vendor(s)
PublishedNov 1, 2023

Related CVEs (CWE-1039)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2023-20071 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.