CVE-2023-20100: Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers CAPWAP Join Denial of Service Vulnerability

Published Mar 23, 2023
·
Updated

A vulnerability in the access point (AP) joining process of the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol of Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device. This vulnerability is due to a logic error that occurs when certain conditions are met during the AP joining process. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by adding an AP that is under their control to the network. The attacker then must ensure that the AP successfully joins an affected wireless controller under certain conditions. Additionally, the attacker would need the ability to restart a valid AP that was previously connected to the controller. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to cause the affected device to restart unexpectedly, resulting in a DoS condition.

Affected Software

11 affected components
Cisco IOS XE=17.10.1
Cisco Catalyst 9800
Cisco Catalyst 9800-40
Cisco Catalyst 9800-40 Wireless Controller
Cisco Catalyst 9800-80
Cisco Catalyst 9800-80 Wireless Controller
Cisco Catalyst 9800-cl
Cisco Catalyst 9800-l
Cisco Catalyst 9800-l-c
Cisco Catalyst 9800-l-f
Cisco Catalyst 9800 Embedded Wireless Controller

Event History

Mar 23, 2023
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2023-20100?

CVE-2023-20100 is a vulnerability in the access point (AP) joining process of the Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol of Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to cause a denial of service (DoS) condition.

2

How severe is CVE-2023-20100?

CVE-2023-20100 has a severity rating of 6.8 (medium).

3

Which software is affected by CVE-2023-20100?

Cisco IOS XE Software for Wireless LAN Controllers (WLCs) version 17.10.1 is affected by CVE-2023-20100.

4

How can an unauthenticated attacker exploit CVE-2023-20100?

An unauthenticated attacker can exploit CVE-2023-20100 by sending malicious packets to the vulnerable device's Control and Provisioning of Wireless Access Points (CAPWAP) protocol, causing it to enter a denial of service (DoS) condition.

5

Is Cisco Catalyst 9800 affected by CVE-2023-20100?

No, Cisco Catalyst 9800 is not affected by CVE-2023-20100.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203