Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-49897

HighCISA KEVActive ExploitationEUVD ExploitedPublic PoCRCE

Published: 06 December 2023

Published
06 December 2023
Modified
24 October 2025
KEV Added
21 December 2023
Patch
CVSS Score v3.1 8.8 CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.2441 96.2th percentile
Risk Priority 52 60% EPSS · 20% KEV · 20% CVSS

Summary

CVE-2023-49897 is a high-severity OS Command Injection (CWE-78) vulnerability in Fxc Ae1021 Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).

Operationally, ranked in the top 3.8% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).

Deeper analysis

CVE-2023-49897 is an OS command injection vulnerability, tracked under CWE-78, that affects AE1021PE and AE1021 firmware versions 2.0.9 and earlier. The flaw permits an authenticated user to supply crafted input that results in execution of arbitrary operating-system commands on the affected devices.

An attacker who can obtain valid login credentials can exploit the issue over the network with low attack complexity. Successful exploitation yields full control over the device, enabling arbitrary command execution that impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, consistent with the CVSS 8.8 score.

Vendor FXC, JVN, and CISA advisories recommend immediate firmware updates to patched versions and advise restricting management access. Akamai’s research further notes that the vulnerability was observed being leveraged to propagate the Mirai botnet before patches were available.

EPSS for the CVE rose from low values after disclosure to a peak of 0.3729, indicating measurable post-publication exploitation interest before receding to the current score of 0.2441.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability details

An OS command injection vulnerability exists in AE1021PE firmware version 2.0.9 and earlier and AE1021 firmware version 2.0.9 and earlier. If this vulnerability is exploited, an arbitrary OS command may be executed by an attacker who can log in to…

more

the product.

CWE(s)
KEV Date Added
21 December 2023

Related Threats

No named actor attribution yet. ATT&CK technique mapping in progress for this CVE.

Affected Assets

fxc
ae1021 firmware
≤ 2.0.10
fxc
ae1021pe firmware
≤ 2.0.10

Mitigating Controls

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Enforces validation of all inputs to the AE1021/AE1021PE management interface, directly blocking the unsanitized parameters that enable CWE-78 OS command injection.

prevent

Requires prompt application of vendor firmware updates that eliminate the command-injection flaw in versions 2.0.9 and earlier.

prevent

Limits privileges of authenticated network users on the device, reducing the scope of arbitrary OS commands that can be executed after successful login.

References