Security Resilience

CVE-2023-21404

Exposed Creds in Axis Os 11.0.89 – 11.4.52

Published
08 May 2023
Modified
29 January 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 5.3
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
EPSS Score 0.0028 19th percentile
Risk Priority 43 floored blend · peak EPSS

CVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.

Summary

CVE-2023-21404 is a medium-severity Use of Hard-coded Cryptographic Key (CWE-321) vulnerability in Axis Axis Os. Its CVSS base score is 5.3 (Medium).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Steganography (T1001.002); ranked at the 19th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

AXIS OS 11.0.X - 11.3.x use a static RSA key in legacy LUA-components to protect Axis-specific source code. The static RSA key is not used in any other secure communication nor can it be used to compromise the device or…

more

any customer data.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1001.002 Steganography Command And Control
Adversaries may use steganographic techniques to hide command and control traffic to make detection efforts more difficult.
T1003.001 LSASS Memory Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to access credential material stored in the process memory of the Local Security Authority Subsystem Service (LSASS).
T1003.002 Security Account Manager Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to extract credential material from the Security Account Manager (SAM) database either through in-memory techniques or through the Windows Registry where the SAM database is stored.
T1003.004 LSA Secrets Credential Access
Adversaries with SYSTEM access to a host may attempt to access Local Security Authority (LSA) secrets, which can contain a variety of different credential materials, such as credentials for service accounts.
T1005 Data from Local System Collection
Adversaries may search local system sources, such as file systems, configuration files, local databases, virtual machine files, or process memory, to find files of interest and sensitive data prior to Exfiltration.
T1007 System Service Discovery Discovery
Adversaries may try to gather information about registered local system services.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-21413Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2025-3892Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2025-11142Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2025-0358Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2026-1185Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2026-0802Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2025-30027Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2026-0804Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2025-6298Same product: Axis Axis Os
CVE-2023-21416Same product: Axis Axis Os

Affected Assets

axis
axis os
11.0.89 — 11.4.52

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

addresses: CWE-311

Privacy and security training stresses encryption of sensitive data, reducing missing encryption weaknesses.

addresses: CWE-311

Exchange agreements must document security requirements, which would include encryption to protect sensitive data in transit.

addresses: CWE-311

The map highlights data actions that involve sensitive data, enabling identification of missing encryption requirements.

addresses: CWE-311

Settings can require encryption of sensitive data, preventing missing encryption weaknesses.

addresses: CWE-311

Architectures must describe confidentiality protections, which includes mandating encryption for sensitive data in transit and at rest.

addresses: CWE-311

Privacy and security curricula stress encryption requirements, reducing missing encryption of sensitive data.

addresses: CWE-311

Requires encryption and similar controls for CUI processed or stored externally, preventing missing encryption of sensitive data.

addresses: CWE-311

Monitoring detects missing encryption of sensitive data in storage or transit configurations.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.DS-01 partial match
blocks

Data-at-rest protection policies require proper key management and therefore discourage hard-coded keys.

PR.DS-02 partial match
blocks

Data-in-transit protection similarly depends on non-hard-coded keys for encryption.

PR.PS-01 partial match
blocks

Configuration baselines and reviews can prohibit hard-coded keys in deployed artifacts.

PR.PS-06 partial match
blocks

Secure-SDLC activities such as code review and secret scanning directly prevent embedding static keys.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

removes
removes
removes
removes
removes

Hardening callouts derived

DISA STIG baselines are authored against specific weaknesses. Where this CVE cites a broad weakness class, the mapping is not asserted at that abstraction (owner ruling, 2026-09-25: grade only at Base and below), so no rule is shown here rather than a rule shown against the wrong grain.

  • No fine-grained STIG row for CWE-311, a class-level weakness. Rules are authored against its narrower children: CWE-312.

References