Cyber 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 21th percentile
Risk Priority 43 floored blend · peak EPSS

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 Private Keys (T1552.004); ranked at the 21th 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

T1552.004 Private Keys Credential Access
Adversaries may search for private key certificate files on compromised systems for insecurely stored credentials.
T1040 Network Sniffing Credential Access
Adversaries may passively sniff network traffic to capture information about an environment, including authentication material passed over the network.
T1552 Unsecured Credentials Credential Access
Adversaries may search compromised systems to find and obtain insecurely stored credentials.
T1552.001 Credentials In Files Credential Access
Adversaries may search local file systems and remote file shares for files containing insecurely stored credentials.
T1557 Adversary-in-the-Middle Credential Access
Adversaries may attempt to position themselves between two or more networked devices using an adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) technique to support follow-on behaviors such as [Network Sniffing](https://attack.
T1557.001 Name Resolution Poisoning and SMB Relay Credential Access
By responding to LLMNR/NBT-NS/mDNS network traffic, adversaries may spoof an authoritative source for name resolution to force communication with an adversary controlled system.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

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

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)

Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)

Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)
  • 7 hardening rules · 7 OS baselines
Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)

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 mostly match
prevents

PR.DS-01 directly mandates encryption for data-at-rest and therefore prevents CWE-311 mostly for storage, yet the weakness also spans transmission and other contexts that this single at-rest control leaves unaddressed.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

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

PR.DS-02 partial match
prevents

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

PR.PS-01 partial match
prevents

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

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.

prevents

Explicit rules requiring encryption for sensitive information in transit eliminate the weakness of sending data without cryptographic protection.

prevents

Key-management controls that govern generation, rotation and protection of keys make the use of embedded hard-coded cryptographic keys less likely and easier to detect.

prevents

Explicitly calling for protection of data in transit and at rest, plus secure encryption of communications, drives the implementation of encryption that prevents clear-text exposure of sensitive information.

Hardening callouts derived

Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).

Oracle Linux 8 (1 rule)
  • V-248525 All OL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at-rest protection. prevents CWE-311
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
  • V-271756 OL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-311
RHEL 8 (1 rule)
  • V-230224 All RHEL 8 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-311
RHEL 9 (1 rule)
  • V-257879 RHEL 9 local disk partitions must implement cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure or modification of all information that requires at rest protection. prevents CWE-311
Windows Server 2016 (1 rule)
  • V-224843 Systems requiring data at rest protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. prevents CWE-311
Windows Server 2019 (1 rule)
  • V-205727 Windows Server 2019 systems requiring data at rest protections must employ cryptographic mechanisms to prevent unauthorized disclosure and modification of the information at rest. prevents CWE-311

References