Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-46453 is a critical authentication bypass in certain GL.iNet devices running 4.x firmware. An unauthenticated attacker may gain administrative control by abusing how the login username is processed. Business risk is highest for devices whose management interface is reachable from untrusted networks.
Executive priority
Treat as urgent for any GL.iNet device exposed to the internet or untrusted networks. The vulnerability can lead to full device administration without credentials. If affected devices support branch, remote access, or customer connectivity, prioritize containment and vendor-confirmed remediation.
Technical view
The CVE describes an auth bypass caused by a username value that is both a valid SQL statement and valid regular expression, mapped to CWE-89. The record cites GL.iNet firmware 4.3.7 on multiple models, including GL-MT3000, GL-AR300M, GL-B1300, GL-AX1800, GL-AR750S, GL-MT2500, GL-AXT1800, GL-X3000, and GL-SFT1200.
Likely exposure
Organizations using GL.iNet devices on 4.x firmware, especially version 4.3.7 on listed models, may be exposed. Exposure is most serious where web administration is internet-facing or reachable from guest, customer, or untrusted networks. The source bundle does not provide a complete affected-version matrix.
Exploitation context
The CVE has CVSS 9.8 with network attack vector, no privileges, and no user interaction. Exploit-DB is listed as a public reference, indicating public exploit information exists. CISA KEV is false in the provided data, and no cited source confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
The provided CVE affected fields are sparse, but the description names specific models and firmware 4.3.7. No vendor advisory or patch information is included in the bundle. Avoid assuming all GL.iNet 4.x devices are affected beyond the wording “certain” devices unless vendor data confirms it.
Mitigation direction
- Check GL.iNet guidance for affected models, firmware versions, and available updates.
- Remove internet exposure from GL.iNet administrative interfaces.
- Restrict management access to trusted administrator networks only.
- Prioritize remediation for devices running 4.x firmware or version 4.3.7.
- Review device configuration for unexpected administrator-level changes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory GL.iNet devices and record model and firmware version.
- Identify devices matching listed models and 4.x firmware.
- Confirm whether administrative interfaces are reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review authentication and administration logs for unusual activity.
- Track vendor advisories for a definitive affected-version and fix statement.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-89: Database access and collection lookup
Injection into data stores can inform collection, data access, and exfiltration detection reviews. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCredential and access behavior lookup
The CVE wording references authentication or credential exposure, so valid-account and credential-access review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-46453 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Critical
- CVSS
- 9.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9CISA-ADPVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
9.8CriticalVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/51865CVE reference, mitre
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection')
Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command ('SQL Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.