HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2023-27100
CRITICALPOC

CVE-2023-27100

CWE-307Published: March 22, 2023· Updated: Jun 17, 2026

9.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Improper restriction of excessive authentication attempts in the SSHGuard component of Netgate pfSense Plus software v22.05.1 and pfSense CE software v2.6.0 allows attackers to bypass brute force protection mechanisms via crafted web requests.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2023-27100 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.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2023-27100. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

netgate1 product(s)
pfsense plus
pfsense1 product(s)
pfsense
Source: NVD CPE · 2 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists
Exploit-DB
Offensive Security exploit database
GitHub PoC Search
Community PoC repositories
Rapid7 / Metasploit
Metasploit module search
PacketStorm
Security advisories & exploits
NVD Detail
Official NIST entry
MITRE CVE
CVE Program entry
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

PATCHhttps://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/13574
PATCHhttps://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/13574
ADVISORYhttps://docs.netgate.com/downloads/pfSense-SA-23_05.sshguard.asc
ADVISORYhttps://docs.netgate.com/downloads/pfSense-SA-23_05.sshguard.asc

All References (7)

→
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171791/pfsenseCE-2.6.0-Protection-Bypass.html
→
https://docs.netgate.com/downloads/pfSense-SA-23_05.sshguard.ascVendor Advisory
→
https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/13574Issue Tracking · Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/171791/pfsenseCE-2.6.0-Protection-Bypass.html
→
https://docs.netgate.com/downloads/pfSense-SA-23_05.sshguard.ascVendor Advisory
→
https://redmine.pfsense.org/issues/13574Issue Tracking · Patch · Vendor Advisory
→
https://packetstorm.news/files/id/171791

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2023-27100
CVSS Score9.8 / 10
SeverityCRITICAL
WeaknessCWE-307
CISA KEVNo
ExploitPOC
Affected2 vendor(s)
PublishedMar 22, 2023

Related CVEs (CWE-307)

CVE-2025-64102
9.8
CVE-2025-63807
9.8
CVE-2018-12649
9.8
CVE-2018-12993
9.8
CVE-2025-64310
9.8
CVE-2018-19548
9.8

Recommended Actions

  • →Apply vendor patches immediately
  • →Monitor CVE-2023-27100 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.
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