# CVE-2023-39780: ASUS RT-AX55 - RCE

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-39780 by the CrowdSec Live Exploit Tracker, built from real-world attack data crowdsourced from CrowdSec's global network.

Page: https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-39780

## Key facts

- **Exploitation phase:** Limited Exploitation. The vulnerability is known but shows very limited attacker interest or exploitation activity.
- **CVSS score:** 8.8
- **Public exploit available:** Yes
- **Affected products:** ASUS RT-AX55
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'))
- **Tags:** iot

## Description

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. NOTE: for the similar "token-generated module" issue, see CVE-2023-41345; for the similar "token-refresh module" issue, see CVE-2023-41346; for the similar "check token module" issue, see CVE-2023-41347; and for the similar "code-authentication module" issue, see CVE-2023-41348.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-39780](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-39780), a flaw in qos_bw_rulelist allows authenticated users to execute arbitrary system commands, leading to complete router takeover.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 4th of June 2025.

CrowdSec has not observed any significant exploitation activity targeting CVE-2023-39780 across its network. As a result, no community-driven trend analysis is available for this vulnerability at this time.

Authenticated attackers inject OS commands via qos_bw_rulelist on `/start_apply.htm`, enabling full device compromise

## Timeline

- 2023-09-11: CVE Published. CVE-2023-39780 is published to NVD.
- 2025-06-02: CISA KEV. CVE-2023-39780 is added to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog by CISA.
- 2025-06-04: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-39780 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.
- 2025-06-23: CISA Remediation Deadline. Expiration of the CISA remediation deadline as described in [BOD 22-01](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/directives/bod-22-01-reducing-significant-risk-known-exploited-vulnerabilities).
- 2025-09-04: CrowdSec First Seen. CrowdSec observes in-the-wild exploitation of CVE-2023-39780 for the first time.

## References

- https://www.greynoise.io/blog/stealthy-backdoor-campaign-affecting-asus-routers
- https://github.com/D2y6p/CVE/blob/main/asus/CVE-2023-39780/5/EN.md
- https://github.com/D2y6p/CVE/blob/main/asus/CVE-2023-39780/3/EN.md
- https://github.com/D2y6p/CVE/blob/main/asus/CVE-2023-39780/6/EN.md
- https://github.com/D2y6p/CVE/blob/main/asus/CVE-2023-39780/2/EN.md
- https://github.com/D2y6p/CVE/blob/main/asus/CVE-2023-39780/4/EN.md
- https://github.com/D2y6p/CVE/blob/main/asus/CVE-2023-39780/1/EN.md

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-39780) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-39780. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.