CVE-2023-39780KEV · OVERDUECWE-78

ASUS RT-AX55 Routers OS Command Injection Vulnerability

High · published September 11, 2023

Patch now

Confirmed exploited, and the score agrees

CVSS calls it high at 8.8. It is confirmed in active exploitation. It sits in the 98.6th percentile for exploit probability.

487
days past CISA
deadline
CVSS v3.1
8.8
EPSS
40%
Percentile
98.6
In the wild
Confirmed
What it is

🚨 Authenticated attackers can launch a full OS command injection on ASUS RT-AX55 devices just by playing with a single parameter! Think of it like a restaurant where anyone with a reservation can walk into the kitchen and command the chef to whip up anything — even a dish nobody ordered! 🍽️ This means a malicious insider could execute any command on the device, potentially leading to complete control over the router. Imagine an intruder reconfiguring the network or even intercepting sensitive data — absolutely devastating! 🔥

Put simply

Think of it like a restaurant where anyone with a reservation can walk into the kitchen and command the chef to whip up anything — even a dish nobody ordered! 🍽️ The vulnerability arises in the /start_apply.htm endpoint, where the qos_bw_rulelist parameter does not properly validate input, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary OS commands.

What to do

This means a malicious insider could execute any command on the device, potentially leading to complete control over the router. Imagine an intruder reconfiguring the network or even intercepting sensitive data — absolutely devastating! 🔥 Immediately update your ASUS RT-AX55 to the latest firmware version and consider disabling any unnecessary remote management features to tighten security. Regularly audit your network for any unauthorized access. 🛡️ You've got this! With these steps, you'll put a solid lock on your network! 💪🔒

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
8.8 · HIGH
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.39514 · 98.6th percentile
Weakness
CWE-78 · Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Published
2023-09-11T00:00Z
KEV added
2025-06-02 · due 2025-06-23
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 02 JUN 00:00Z
    Added to CISA KEV — remediate by Jun 23
    kev
  • 11 SEP 00:00Z
    On ASUS RT-AX55 3.0.0.4.386.51598 devices, authenticated attackers can perform OS command injection via the /start_apply.htm qos_bw_rulelist parameter
    cvelistv5