CVE-2023-20109
A vulnerability in the Cisco Group Encrypted Transport VPN (GET VPN) feature of Cisco IOS Software and Cisco IOS XE Software could allow an authenticated, remote attacker who has administrative control of either a group member or a key server to execute arbitrary code on an affected device or cause the device to crash. This vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of attributes in the Group Domain of Interpretation (GDOI) and G-IKEv2 protocols of the GET VPN feature. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by either compromising an installed key server or modifying the configuration of a group member to point to a key server that is controlled by the attacker. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code and gain full control of the affected system or cause the affected system to reload, resulting in a denial of service (DoS) condition. For more information, see the Details ["#details"] section of this advisory.
- CVSS
- 6.6Mediumscored by the publisher (CNA)
- Exploited in the wild
- Yes, in CISA KEV since 10 Oct 2023CISA deadline for US federal agencies: 31 Oct 2023
- EPSS
- 2.5%chance of exploitation in the next 30 daystop 16% of scored CVEsFIRST score of 11 Nov 2026
- Fix
- Patch availablesee the advisories in the references
- Published
- 27 Sept 2023analysed here 12 Nov 2026
Do first. Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. (CISA's required action for this KEV entry)
Summary
Triage
The summary, impact and action text on this page are written by our AI analysis pipeline, or taken from the NVD description when a CVE was imported from NVD. They are not the vendor's wording: check them against the sources. A longer AI executive summary and technical analysis are generated for signed-in accounts on the Max plan.
Affected products
| Product | Affected versions | Vendor says fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| Cisco Cisco IOS XE Software | 3.7.0S3.7.1S3.7.2S3.7.3S3.7.4S3.7.5S3.7.6S3.7.7S3.7.4aS3.7.2tS3.7.0bS3.7.1aS3.3.0SG3.3.2SG3.3.1SG3.8.0S3.8.1S3.8.2S3.9.1S3.9.0S3.9.2S3.9.1aS3.9.0aS3.4.0SG3.4.2SG3.4.1SG3.4.3SG3.4.4SG3.4.5SG3.4.6SG3.4.7SG3.4.8SG3.5.0E3.5.1E3.5.2E3.5.3E3.10.0S3.10.1S3.10.2S3.10.3S3.10.4S3.10.5S3.10.6S3.10.2tS3.10.7S3.10.1xbS3.10.8S3.10.8aS3.10.9S3.10.10S3.11.1S3.11.2S3.11.0S3.11.3S3.11.4S3.12.0S3.12.1S3.12.2S3.12.3S3.12.0aS3.12.4S3.13.0S3.13.1S3.13.2S3.13.3S3.13.4S3.13.5S3.13.2aS3.13.0aS3.13.5aS3.13.6S3.13.7S3.13.6aS3.13.7aS3.13.8S3.13.9S3.13.10S3.6.0E3.6.1E3.6.2aE3.6.2E3.6.3E3.6.4E3.6.5E3.6.6E3.6.5aE3.6.5bE3.6.7E3.6.8E3.6.7bE3.6.9E3.6.10E3.14.0S3.14.1S3.14.2S3.14.3S3.14.4S3.15.0S3.15.1S3.15.2S3.15.1cS3.15.3S3.15.4S3.16.0S3.16.1S3.16.1aS3.16.2S3.16.2aS3.16.0cS3.16.3S3.16.2bS3.16.3aS3.16.4S3.16.4aS3.16.4bS3.16.5S3.16.4dS3.16.6S3.16.7S3.16.6bS3.16.7aS3.16.7bS3.16.8S3.16.9S3.16.10S3.17.0S3.17.1S3.17.2S3.17.1aS3.17.3S3.17.4S16.1.116.1.216.1.316.2.116.2.23.8.0E3.8.1E3.8.2E3.8.3E3.8.4E3.8.5E3.8.5aE3.8.6E3.8.7E3.8.8E3.8.9E3.8.10E16.3.116.3.216.3.316.3.1a16.3.416.3.516.3.5b16.3.616.3.716.3.816.3.916.3.1016.3.1116.4.116.4.216.4.316.5.116.5.1a16.5.1b16.5.216.5.33.18.0aS3.18.0S3.18.1S3.18.2S3.18.3S3.18.4S3.18.0SP3.18.1SP3.18.1aSP3.18.1bSP3.18.1cSP3.18.2SP3.18.2aSP3.18.3SP3.18.4SP3.18.3aSP3.18.3bSP3.18.5SP3.18.6SP3.18.7SP3.18.8aSP3.18.9SP3.9.0E3.9.1E3.9.2E16.6.116.6.216.6.316.6.416.6.516.6.4a16.6.5a16.6.616.6.716.6.816.6.916.6.1016.7.116.7.1a16.7.1b16.7.216.7.316.7.416.8.116.8.1a16.8.1b16.8.1s16.8.1c16.8.1d16.8.216.8.1e16.8.316.9.116.9.216.9.1a16.9.1b16.9.1s16.9.316.9.416.9.3a16.9.516.9.5f16.9.616.9.716.9.816.10.116.10.1a16.10.1b16.10.1s16.10.1c16.10.1e16.10.1d16.10.216.10.1f16.10.1g16.10.33.10.0E3.10.1E3.10.0cE3.10.2E3.10.3E16.11.116.11.1a16.11.1b16.11.216.11.1s16.12.116.12.1s16.12.1a16.12.1c16.12.1w16.12.216.12.1y16.12.2a16.12.316.12.816.12.2s16.12.1x16.12.1t16.12.416.12.3s16.12.3a16.12.4a16.12.516.12.616.12.1z116.12.5a16.12.5b16.12.1z216.12.6a16.12.716.12.93.11.0E3.11.1E3.11.2E3.11.3E3.11.1aE3.11.4E3.11.3aE3.11.5E3.11.6E3.11.7E3.11.8E17.1.117.1.1a17.1.1s17.1.1t17.1.317.2.117.2.1r17.2.1a17.2.1v17.2.217.2.317.3.117.3.217.3.317.3.1a17.3.1w17.3.2a17.3.1x17.3.1z17.3.417.3.517.3.4a17.3.617.3.4b17.3.4c17.3.5a17.3.5b17.3.717.4.117.4.217.4.1a17.4.1b17.4.2a17.5.117.5.1a17.5.1c17.6.117.6.217.6.1w17.6.1a17.6.1x17.6.317.6.1y17.6.1z17.6.3a17.6.417.6.1z117.6.517.6.5a17.7.117.7.1a17.7.1b17.7.217.10.117.10.1a17.10.1b17.8.117.8.1a17.9.117.9.1w17.9.217.9.1a17.9.1x17.9.1y17.9.317.9.2a17.9.1x117.9.3a17.9.1y117.11.117.11.1a17.11.99SWVendor says fixed in: not stated | |
| Cisco IOS | 12.4(24)T12.4(24)T312.4(22)T112.4(24)T512.4(24)T412.4(22)T12.4(24)T812.4(24)T212.4(22)T512.4(22)T412.4(24)T112.4(24)T712.4(22)T312.4(24)T612.4(22)T212.4(24)T4a12.4(24)T4b12.4(24)T3e12.4(24)T4c12.4(24)T4d12.4(24)T4e12.4(24)T3f12.4(24)T4f12.4(24)T4l12.4(24)MD112.4(24)MD12.4(24)MD312.4(24)MD212.4(22)MD112.4(22)MD212.4(24)MD512.4(22)MD12.4(24)MD412.4(24)MD612.4(24)MD712.4(22)XR512.4(22)XR412.4(22)XR712.4(22)XR212.4(22)XR612.4(22)XR1012.4(22)XR112.4(22)XR912.4(22)XR312.4(22)XR812.4(22)XR1112.4(22)XR1212.4(22)MDA312.4(24)MDA512.4(22)MDA512.4(24)MDA312.4(22)MDA412.4(24)MDA412.4(24)MDA112.4(22)MDA12.4(22)MDA212.4(22)MDA112.4(24)MDA212.4(22)MDA612.4(24)MDA612.4(24)MDA712.4(24)MDA812.4(24)MDA1012.4(24)MDA912.4(24)MDA1112.4(24)MDA1212.4(24)MDA1312.4(24)YG312.4(24)YG412.4(24)YG112.4(24)YG212.4(24)YG15.0(1)M115.0(1)M515.0(1)M415.0(1)M315.0(1)M215.0(1)M615.0(1)M15.0(1)M715.0(1)M1015.0(1)M915.0(1)M815.0(1)XA215.0(1)XA415.0(1)XA115.0(1)XA315.0(1)XA15.0(1)XA515.1(2)T15.1(1)T415.1(3)T215.1(1)T115.1(2)T0a15.1(3)T315.1(1)T315.1(2)T315.1(2)T415.1(1)T215.1(3)T15.1(2)T2a15.1(3)T115.1(1)T15.1(2)T215.1(2)T115.1(2)T515.1(3)T415.1(1)T515.1(1)XB15.0(1)S215.0(1)S115.0(1)S15.0(1)S3a15.0(1)S415.0(1)S515.0(1)S4a15.0(1)S615.2(1)S15.2(2)S15.2(1)S115.2(4)S15.2(1)S215.2(2)S115.2(2)S215.2(2)S0a15.2(2)S0c15.2(4)S115.2(4)S415.2(4)S615.2(4)S215.2(4)S515.2(4)S315.2(4)S3a15.2(4)S4a15.2(4)S715.3(1)T15.3(2)T15.3(1)T115.3(1)T215.3(1)T315.3(1)T415.3(2)T115.3(2)T215.3(2)T315.3(2)T415.0(2)EY15.0(2)EY115.0(2)EY215.0(2)EY315.1(2)S15.1(1)S15.1(1)S115.1(3)S15.1(1)S215.1(2)S115.1(2)S215.1(3)S115.1(3)S0a15.1(3)S215.1(3)S415.1(3)S315.1(3)S515.1(3)S615.1(3)S5a15.1(4)M315.1(4)M15.1(4)M115.1(4)M215.1(4)M615.1(4)M515.1(4)M415.1(4)M715.1(4)M3a15.1(4)M1015.1(4)M815.1(4)M915.0(2)SE15.0(2)SE115.0(2)SE215.0(2)SE315.0(2)SE415.0(2)SE515.0(2)SE615.0(2)SE715.0(2)SE815.0(2)SE915.0(2)SE1015.0(2)SE1115.0(2)SE10a15.0(2)SE1215.0(2)SE1315.1(2)GC15.1(2)GC115.1(2)GC215.1(4)GC15.1(4)GC115.1(4)GC215.1(1)SG15.1(2)SG15.1(1)SG115.1(1)SG215.1(2)SG115.1(2)SG215.1(2)SG315.1(2)SG415.1(2)SG515.1(2)SG615.1(2)SG715.1(2)SG815.0(1)MR15.0(2)MR15.2(4)M15.2(4)M115.2(4)M215.2(4)M415.2(4)M315.2(4)M515.2(4)M815.2(4)M1015.2(4)M715.2(4)M615.2(4)M915.2(4)M6a15.2(4)M1112.4(24)MDB12.4(24)MDB112.4(24)MDB312.4(24)MDB412.4(24)MDB512.4(24)MDB612.4(24)MDB712.4(24)MDB5a12.4(24)MDB812.4(24)MDB912.4(24)MDB1012.4(24)MDB1112.4(24)MDB1212.4(24)MDB1312.4(24)MDB1412.4(24)MDB1512.4(24)MDB1612.4(24)MDB1712.4(24)MDB1812.4(24)MDB1915.0(2)EX15.0(2)EX115.0(2)EX215.0(2)EX315.0(2)EX415.0(2)EX515.0(2)EX815.0(2a)EX515.0(2)EX1015.0(2)EX1115.0(2)EX1315.0(2)EX1215.2(1)GC15.2(1)GC115.2(1)GC215.2(2)GC15.2(3)GC15.2(3)GC115.2(4)GC15.2(4)GC115.2(4)GC215.2(4)GC315.1(1)SY15.1(1)SY115.1(2)SY15.1(2)SY115.1(2)SY215.1(1)SY215.1(1)SY315.1(2)SY315.1(1)SY415.1(2)SY415.1(1)SY515.1(2)SY515.1(2)SY4a15.1(1)SY615.1(2)SY615.1(2)SY715.1(2)SY815.1(2)SY915.1(2)SY1015.1(2)SY1115.1(2)SY1215.1(2)SY1315.1(2)SY1415.1(2)SY1515.1(2)SY1615.3(1)S15.3(2)S15.3(3)S15.3(1)S215.3(1)S115.3(2)S215.3(2)S115.3(3)S115.3(3)S215.3(3)S315.3(3)S615.3(3)S415.3(3)S1a15.3(3)S515.3(3)S715.3(3)S815.3(3)S915.3(3)S1015.3(3)S8a15.4(1)T15.4(2)T15.4(1)T215.4(1)T115.4(1)T315.4(2)T115.4(2)T315.4(2)T215.4(1)T415.4(2)T415.0(2)EA15.0(2)EA115.2(1)E15.2(2)E15.2(1)E115.2(3)E15.2(1)E215.2(1)E315.2(2)E115.2(4)E15.2(3)E115.2(2)E215.2(2a)E115.2(2)E315.2(2a)E215.2(3)E215.2(3a)E15.2(3)E315.2(4)E115.2(2)E415.2(2)E515.2(4)E215.2(3)E415.2(5)E15.2(4)E315.2(2)E615.2(5a)E15.2(5)E115.2(5b)E15.2(2)E5a15.2(5c)E15.2(3)E515.2(2)E5b15.2(5a)E115.2(4)E415.2(2)E715.2(5)E215.2(6)E15.2(5)E2b15.2(4)E515.2(5)E2c15.2(2)E815.2(6)E0a15.2(6)E115.2(2)E7b15.2(4)E5a15.2(6)E0c15.2(4)E615.2(6)E215.2(2)E915.2(4)E715.2(7)E15.2(2)E1015.2(4)E815.2(6)E2a15.2(6)E2b15.2(7)E115.2(7)E0a15.2(7)E0b15.2(7)E0s15.2(6)E315.2(4)E915.2(7)E215.2(7a)E0b15.2(4)E1015.2(7)E315.2(7)E1a15.2(7b)E0b15.2(7)E2a15.2(4)E10a15.2(7)E415.2(7)E3k15.2(8)E15.2(8)E115.2(7)E515.2(7)E615.2(8)E215.2(4)E10d15.2(7)E715.2(8)E315.2(7)E815.2(8)E415.1(3)MRA15.1(3)MRA115.1(3)MRA215.1(3)MRA315.1(3)MRA415.1(3)SVB115.1(3)SVB215.4(1)S15.4(2)S15.4(3)S15.4(1)S115.4(1)S215.4(2)S115.4(1)S315.4(3)S115.4(2)S215.4(3)S215.4(3)S315.4(1)S415.4(2)S315.4(2)S415.4(3)S415.4(3)S515.4(3)S615.4(3)S715.4(3)S6a15.4(3)S815.4(3)S915.4(3)S1015.3(3)M15.3(3)M115.3(3)M215.3(3)M315.3(3)M515.3(3)M415.3(3)M615.3(3)M715.3(3)M815.3(3)M915.3(3)M1015.3(3)M8a15.0(2)EZ15.1(3)SVD15.1(3)SVD115.1(3)SVD215.2(1)EY15.0(2)EJ15.0(2)EJ115.2(1)SY15.2(1)SY115.2(1)SY0a15.2(1)SY215.2(2)SY15.2(1)SY1a15.2(2)SY115.2(2)SY215.2(1)SY315.2(1)SY415.2(2)SY315.2(1)SY515.2(1)SY615.2(1)SY715.2(1)SY815.2(5)EX15.1(3)SVF15.1(3)SVF115.1(3)SVE15.4(3)M15.4(3)M115.4(3)M215.4(3)M315.4(3)M415.4(3)M515.4(3)M615.4(3)M715.4(3)M6a15.4(3)M815.4(3)M915.4(3)M1015.0(2)EK15.0(2)EK115.4(1)CG15.4(1)CG115.4(2)CG15.5(1)S15.5(2)S15.5(1)S115.5(3)S15.5(1)S215.5(1)S315.5(2)S115.5(2)S215.5(3)S115.5(3)S1a15.5(2)S315.5(3)S215.5(3)S0a15.5(3)S315.5(1)S415.5(2)S415.5(3)S415.5(3)S515.5(3)S615.5(3)S6a15.5(3)S715.5(3)S6b15.5(3)S815.5(3)S915.5(3)S1015.5(3)S9a15.1(3)SVG15.2(2)EB15.2(2)EB115.2(2)EB215.2(6)EB15.5(1)T15.5(1)T115.5(2)T15.5(1)T215.5(1)T315.5(2)T115.5(2)T215.5(2)T315.5(2)T415.5(1)T415.2(2)EA15.2(2)EA115.2(2)EA215.2(3)EA15.2(4)EA15.2(4)EA115.2(2)EA315.2(4)EA315.2(5)EA15.2(4)EA415.2(4)EA515.2(4)EA615.2(4)EA715.2(4)EA815.2(4)EA915.2(4)EA9a15.5(3)M15.5(3)M115.5(3)M0a15.5(3)M215.5(3)M315.5(3)M415.5(3)M4a15.5(3)M515.5(3)M615.5(3)M715.5(3)M6a15.5(3)M815.5(3)M915.5(3)M1015.5(3)SN15.6(1)S15.6(2)S15.6(2)S115.6(1)S115.6(1)S215.6(2)S215.6(1)S315.6(2)S315.6(1)S415.6(2)S415.6(1)T15.6(2)T15.6(1)T0a15.6(1)T115.6(2)T115.6(1)T215.6(2)T215.6(1)T315.6(2)T315.3(1)SY15.3(1)SY115.3(1)SY215.6(2)SP15.6(2)SP115.6(2)SP215.6(2)SP315.6(2)SP415.6(2)SP515.6(2)SP615.6(2)SP715.6(2)SP815.6(2)SP915.6(2)SP1015.6(2)SN15.6(3)M15.6(3)M115.6(3)M0a15.6(3)M1b15.6(3)M215.6(3)M2a15.6(3)M315.6(3)M3a15.6(3)M415.6(3)M515.6(3)M615.6(3)M715.6(3)M6a15.6(3)M6b15.6(3)M815.6(3)M915.1(3)SVJ215.2(4)EC115.2(4)EC215.4(1)SY15.4(1)SY115.4(1)SY215.4(1)SY315.4(1)SY415.5(1)SY15.5(1)SY115.5(1)SY215.5(1)SY315.5(1)SY415.5(1)SY515.5(1)SY615.5(1)SY715.5(1)SY815.5(1)SY915.5(1)SY1015.5(1)SY1115.7(3)M15.7(3)M115.7(3)M0a15.7(3)M315.7(3)M215.7(3)M415.7(3)M515.7(3)M4a15.7(3)M4b15.7(3)M615.7(3)M715.7(3)M815.7(3)M915.8(3)M15.8(3)M115.8(3)M0a15.8(3)M0b15.8(3)M215.8(3)M1a15.8(3)M315.8(3)M2a15.8(3)M415.8(3)M3a15.8(3)M3b15.8(3)M515.8(3)M615.8(3)M715.8(3)M815.8(3)M915.8(3)M1015.9(3)M15.9(3)M115.9(3)M0a15.9(3)M215.9(3)M315.9(3)M2a15.9(3)M3a15.9(3)M415.9(3)M3b15.9(3)M515.9(3)M4a15.9(3)M615.9(3)M715.9(3)M6a15.9(3)M6b15.9(3)M7aVendor says fixed in: not stated |
As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.
Products named in our analysis
- cisco:ios
- cisco:ios_xe
Fix and mitigation
WAF and other mitigations
Can a WAF block it? No. The attack involves protocols related to Cisco's VPN feature, not HTTP, so the malicious input is delivered over a non-HTTP network protocol. Because it requires administrative control and uses protocol attributes, the malicious traffic looks like normal protocol communication and cannot be reliably distinguished by a web application firewall.
Also consider: patch
Based on an AI reading of the CVE description, and no vendor rule found yet. We check Cloudflare, AWS, Google Cloud Armor and Azure; for Akamai, Imperva, Fastly, F5, ask your vendor.
Remediation steps (AI-written)
Step-by-step remediation is generated for accounts on the Max plan, for CVEs that match a technology in their stack. Add this technology to your stack to see the fix checklist.
Exploitation evidence
- CISA KEV catalog
- Listed since 10 Oct 2023.
- CISA due date
- 31 Oct 2023, the remediation deadline for US federal agencies
- CISA required action
- Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
- Public exploit code
- None on record in Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei templates or PoC-in-GitHub.
- CISA SSVC
- exploitation active, automatable no, technical impact totalAssessed by CISA 23 Oct 2024 (SSVC 2.0.3). Exploitation is none, poc (public proof of concept) or active.
Timeline
- 27 Sept 2023Published
- 10 Oct 2023Added to CISA KEV (exploited in the wild)12 days later
- 31 Oct 2023CISA remediation due date (US federal agencies)21 days later
- 23 Oct 2024CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation active359 days (about 12 months) later
- 21 Oct 2025CVE record last updated363 days (about 12 months) later
- 12 Nov 2026Analysed by vulneraibility.com387 days (about 1 year) later
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | NetworkReachable over the internet or any routable network. | Reachable over the internet or any routable network. |
| Attack complexity | HighNeeds specific conditions, a race or a particular configuration. | Needs specific conditions, a race or a particular configuration. |
| Privileges required | HighThe attacker needs admin-level privileges. | The attacker needs admin-level privileges. |
| User interaction | NoneNo victim action needed. | No victim action needed. |
| Scope | UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component. | Impact stays within the vulnerable component. |
| Confidentiality | HighTotal data disclosure possible. | Total data disclosure possible. |
| Integrity | HighComplete modification possible. | Complete modification possible. |
| Availability | HighFull outage possible. | Full outage possible. |
Common questions
Is CVE-2023-20109 being exploited?
Yes. CVE-2023-20109 appears in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which means exploitation in the wild has been confirmed and reported. Treat it as active rather than theoretical, and patch it ahead of higher-scoring vulnerabilities that carry no exploitation evidence.
How severe is CVE-2023-20109?
CVE-2023-20109 is rated Medium with a CVSS score of 6.6. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2023-20109?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2023-20109. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2023-20109 affect?
CVE-2023-20109 affects cisco:ios, cisco:ios_xe. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
References
2 references in the CVE record, grouped by the tags the record gives them.
Other links (2)
- sec.cloudapps.cisco.com /security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-getvpn-rce-g8qR68sx
- cisa.gov /known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-20109
Where the data on this page comes from
- CVE List (CVE.org): description, affected versions, references; CVE Terms of Use
- NVD: CVSS and CPE data
- CISA KEV catalog: exploitation, date added, due date
- CISA Vulnrichment (ADP): SSVC decision points
- FIRST EPSS: exploit probability and percentile
Summary, impact and triage tags: written by our AI analysis pipeline from the sources above. Check them against the sources.
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