Raw vector
CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:XCVSS and EPSS are reproduced from their sources (NVD, FIRST EPSS). Risk Priority is our own derived reading, not an NVD score.
Summary
CVE-2023-53964 is a high-severity Missing Authentication for Critical Function (CWE-306) vulnerability in Sound4 Impact Firmware. Its CVSS base score is 8.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique System Service Discovery (T1007); ranked in the top 39% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to AC-14 (Permitted Actions Without Identification or Authentication) and IA-2 (Identification and Authentication (Organizational Users)) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2023-53964 is an unauthenticated vulnerability (CWE-306) in the /usr/cgi-bin/restorefactory.cgi endpoint of SOUND4 IMPACT, FIRST, PULSE, and Eco devices running version 2.x. It allows remote attackers to send a POST request with specific data to trigger a factory reset of the device configuration, bypassing authentication and enabling full system control. The issue carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Any unauthenticated remote attacker with network access to the device can exploit this vulnerability due to the lack of authentication checks (PR:N) and low attack complexity (AC:L), with no user interaction required (UI:N). Exploitation resets the device to factory settings, disrupting operations and providing the attacker with full system control, severely impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Advisories from VulnCheck and Zero Science Laboratory (ZSL-2022-5742) detail the unauthenticated factory reset vulnerability, while a proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available on Exploit-DB (exploit 51174). An archived version of the vendor's website is referenced, but no vendor patches or specific mitigation guidance are provided in the available references.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-60249
Vulnerability Data
SOUND4 IMPACT/FIRST/PULSE/Eco v2.x contains an unauthenticated vulnerability in the /usr/cgi-bin/restorefactory.cgi endpoint that allows remote attackers to reset device configuration. Attackers can send a POST request to the endpoint with specific data to trigger a factory reset and bypass authentication, gaining…
more
full system control.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 6 hardening rules · 3 OS baselines
V6.2.3V6.4.4V10.4.16V12.1.3
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly mandates unique identification and authentication of users before access to functions requiring identity.
Extends the same authentication requirement to non-organizational users accessing critical functionality.
Requires authentication of services before they can invoke or expose critical functions.
Explicitly identifies and limits actions permitted without authentication, preventing critical functions from being exposed.
Access enforcement requires prior authentication before any authorization decision for critical functions.
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.
Managing identities and credentials is a prerequisite for authentication but does not itself enforce it on critical functions.
Directly requires authentication of users/services/hardware, which eliminates missing authentication for critical functions.
Defining and enforcing authorizations assumes prior authentication and therefore only partially mitigates the absence of authentication.
Protecting networks from unauthorized access can be undermined by missing authentication but does not address the root authentication gap.
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.
Mandating authentication requirements for critical functions at the requirements-gathering stage ensures that essential operations are not left unprotected by missing login or verification mechanisms.
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` (higher-evidence rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (2 rules)
- V-248585 OL 8 must require reauthentication when using the "sudo" command. blocks CWE-306
- V-248827 OL 8 must not have the rsh-server package installed. blocks CWE-306
RHEL 7 (2 rules)
- V-204442 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must not have the rsh-server package installed. blocks CWE-306
- V-237635 The Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating system must require re-authentication when using the "sudo" command. blocks CWE-306
RHEL 8 (2 rules)
- V-230492 RHEL 8 must not have the rsh-server package installed. blocks CWE-306
- V-237643 RHEL 8 must require re-authentication when using the "sudo" command. blocks CWE-306