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CVE-2023-20246: Multiple Cisco products are affected by a vulnerability in Snort access control policies that could allow an u

37
Routine
MEDIUM 5.8REMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2023-20246 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.8) affecting snort, secure firewall threat defense, ios xe. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Multiple Cisco products are affected by a vulnerability in Snort access control policies that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass the configured policies on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to a logic error that occurs when the access control policies are being populated. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by establishing a connection to an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the atta

Why this priority

  • Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score5.8 (Medium)
Attack vectorNetwork (remote)
Attack complexityLow
Privileges neededNone
User interactionNone
EPSS exploit chance0.6% (top 53%)
CISA exploited listNo
WeaknessCWE-290
Published2023-11-01
Last modified2026-08-11
Publisher (CNA): Cisco Systems, Inc. · Vendor: cisco · snort

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Last updated 2026-08-11 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

snort snort UPGRADE
Affected: >= 3.0.0 and < 3.1.57.0
Fixed in: 3.1.57.0
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy snort || rpm -q snort || snort --version
2. UPGRADE to 3.1.57.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade snort
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade snort
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison snort sudo apt install snort=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold snort
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list snort sudo dnf downgrade snort-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add snort
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
cisco secure firewall threat defense UPGRADE
Affected: >= 7.0.0 and <= 7.3.1.1
Fixed in: newer than 7.3.1.1
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy secure-firewall-threat-defense || rpm -q secure-firewall-threat-defense || secure-firewall-threat-defense --version
2. UPGRADE to newer than 7.3.1.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade secure-firewall-threat-defense
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade secure-firewall-threat-defense
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 7.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison secure-firewall-threat-defense sudo apt install secure-firewall-threat-defense=<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold secure-firewall-threat-defense
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list secure-firewall-threat-defense sudo dnf downgrade secure-firewall-threat-defense-<VERSION_BEFORE_7.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add secure-firewall-threat-defense
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
cisco ios xe UPGRADE
Affected: >= 17.12 and < 17.12.2
Fixed in: 17.12.2
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 17.12
Check your OS release
cat /etc/os-release; uname -r
Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade
RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora
sudo dnf upgrade --refresh
Windows
Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update
If no patch exists yet
OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.
Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-20246?

snort: upgrade to 3.1.57.0; secure firewall threat defense: upgrade to newer than 7.3.1.1; ios xe: upgrade to 17.12.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-20246 being exploited?

CVE-2023-20246 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-20246 affect?

CVE-2023-20246 affects snort, secure firewall threat defense, ios xe. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.8). Multiple Cisco products are affected by a vulnerability in Snort access control policies that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to bypass the configured policies on an affected system. This vulnerability is due to a logic

How urgent is CVE-2023-20246?

Priority 37/100. Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Software pages

iOS vulnerabilities · Cisco IOS XE vulnerabilities · Cisco vulnerabilities · Suricata and Snort vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

References

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