CVE-2023-40146

A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the /bin/login functionality of Peplink Smart Reader v1.2.0 (in QEMU). A specially crafted command line argument can lead to a limited-shell escape and elevated capabilities. An attacker can authenticate with hard-coded credentials and execute unblocked default busybox functionality to trigger this vulnerability.

CVSS v3 6.8 MEDIUM

6.8^/10

CVSS v3 : MEDIUM

Vector :

Exploitability : 0.9 / Impact : 5.9

Attack Vector PHYSICAL

Attack Complexity LOW

Privileges Required NONE

User Interaction NONE

Confidentiality Impact HIGH

Integrity Impact HIGH

Availability Impact HIGH

Scope UNCHANGED

References

Link	Resource
https://forum.peplink.com/t/peplink-security-advisory-smart-reader-firmware-1-2-0-cve-2023-43491-cve-2023-45209-cve-2023-39367-cve-2023-45744-cve-2023-40146/47256	Vendor Advisory
https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868	Exploit Third Party Advisory
https://forum.peplink.com/t/peplink-security-advisory-smart-reader-firmware-1-2-0-cve-2023-43491-cve-2023-45209-cve-2023-39367-cve-2023-45744-cve-2023-40146/47256	Vendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240822-0008/	Third Party Advisory
https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868	Exploit Third Party Advisory
https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868

Configurations

Configuration 1 (hide)

AND

cpe:2.3:o:peplink:smart_reader_firmware:1.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

cpe:2.3:h:peplink:smart_reader:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

History

04 Nov 2025, 19:15

Type	Values Removed	Values Added
References		() https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868 -

Information

Published : 2024-04-17 13:15

Updated : 2025-11-04 19:15

NVD link : CVE-2023-40146

Mitre link : CVE-2023-40146

CVE.ORG link : CVE-2023-40146

JSON object : View

Products Affected

peplink

smart_reader_firmware
smart_reader

CWE

CWE-77

Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')

CWE-798

Use of Hard-coded Credentials

{"id": "CVE-2023-40146", "cveTags": [], "metrics": {"cvssMetricV31": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "[email protected]", "cvssData": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 6.8, "attackVector": "PHYSICAL", "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}, "impactScore": 5.9, "exploitabilityScore": 0.9}, {"type": "Primary", "source": "[email protected]", "cvssData": {"scope": "UNCHANGED", "version": "3.1", "baseScore": 9.8, "attackVector": "NETWORK", "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL", "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H", "integrityImpact": "HIGH", "userInteraction": "NONE", "attackComplexity": "LOW", "availabilityImpact": "HIGH", "privilegesRequired": "NONE", "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"}, "impactScore": 5.9, "exploitabilityScore": 3.9}]}, "published": "2024-04-17T13:15:07.143", "references": [{"url": "https://forum.peplink.com/t/peplink-security-advisory-smart-reader-firmware-1-2-0-cve-2023-43491-cve-2023-45209-cve-2023-39367-cve-2023-45744-cve-2023-40146/47256", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"], "source": "[email protected]"}, {"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868", "tags": ["Exploit", "Third Party Advisory"], "source": "[email protected]"}, {"url": "https://forum.peplink.com/t/peplink-security-advisory-smart-reader-firmware-1-2-0-cve-2023-43491-cve-2023-45209-cve-2023-39367-cve-2023-45744-cve-2023-40146/47256", "tags": ["Vendor Advisory"], "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}, {"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240822-0008/", "tags": ["Third Party Advisory"], "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}, {"url": "https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868", "tags": ["Exploit", "Third Party Advisory"], "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}, {"url": "https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868", "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}], "vulnStatus": "Modified", "weaknesses": [{"type": "Secondary", "source": "[email protected]", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-77"}]}, {"type": "Primary", "source": "[email protected]", "description": [{"lang": "en", "value": "CWE-798"}]}], "descriptions": [{"lang": "en", "value": "A privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the /bin/login functionality of Peplink Smart Reader v1.2.0 (in QEMU). A specially crafted command line argument can lead to a limited-shell escape and elevated capabilities. An attacker can authenticate with hard-coded credentials and execute unblocked default busybox functionality to trigger this vulnerability."}, {"lang": "es", "value": "Existe una vulnerabilidad de escalada de privilegios en la funcionalidad /bin/login de Peplink Smart Reader v1.2.0 (en QEMU). Un argumento de l\u00ednea de comando especialmente manipulado puede conducir a un escape de shell limitado y capacidades elevadas. Un atacante puede autenticarse con credenciales codificadas y ejecutar la funcionalidad de Busybox predeterminada desbloqueada para desencadenar esta vulnerabilidad."}], "lastModified": "2025-11-04T19:15:55.627", "configurations": [{"nodes": [{"negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:peplink:smart_reader_firmware:1.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "vulnerable": true, "matchCriteriaId": "EC88FE9B-A7C2-4EAD-9830-65E07911BE83"}], "operator": "OR"}, {"negate": false, "cpeMatch": [{"criteria": "cpe:2.3:h:peplink:smart_reader:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*", "vulnerable": false, "matchCriteriaId": "07C8582C-3B8B-453C-A7AD-7567F905377D"}], "operator": "OR"}], "operator": "AND"}], "sourceIdentifier": "[email protected]"}