# CVE-2023-49230: Peplink - Missing Authorization

> Live exploitation tracking for CVE-2023-49230 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-2023-49230

## 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:** Peplink Balance Two
- **Weaknesses:** CWE-862 (Missing Authorization)
- **Tags:** web_application

## Description

An issue was discovered in Peplink Balance Two before 8.4.0. A missing authorization check in captive portals allows attackers to modify the portals' configurations without prior authentication.

## CrowdSec analysis

[CVE-2023-49230](https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/vulnerability/CVE-2023-49230) is a vulnerability in Peplink Balance Two devices prior to version 8.4.0, where a missing authorization check in captive portals allows attackers to modify portal configurations without authentication. This flaw could be exploited to alter network access controls or launch further attacks against users of the captive portal.

CrowdSec has been tracking this vulnerability and its exploits since 16th of July 2025.

CrowdSec has not observed any significant exploitation activity targeting CVE-2023-49230 across its network. As a result, no community-driven trend analysis is available for this vulnerability at this time.

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by sending unauthenticated POST requests to `/guest/portal_admin_upload.cgi`, allowing them to upload or modify captive portal configurations without authorization.

## Timeline

- 2023-12-28: CVE Published. CVE-2023-49230 is published to NVD.
- 2025-07-16: Rule Released. CrowdSec releases a rule to detect CVE-2023-49230 exploitation attempts against the CrowdSec Network.

## References

- https://www.synacktiv.com/sites/default/files/2023-12/synacktiv-peplink-multiple-vulnerabilities.pdf
- https://www.synacktiv.com/publications%253Ffield_tags_target_id%253D4
- https://github.com/projectdiscovery/nuclei-templates/blob/main/http/cves/2023/CVE-2023-49230.yaml

## Live exploitation data

The [Live Exploit Tracker page](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/cves/CVE-2023-49230) follows observed exploitation activity for CVE-2023-49230. [Request an API key](https://tracker.crowdsec.net/request-api-key) for full access to its exploitation timeline, attacking IP addresses and blocklists.