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Vulnerability record · CVE-2023-40146 · published 17 April 2024

CVE-2023-40146: Peplink smart reader firmware command injection vulnerability

Peplink · Smart Reader Firmware

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.

9.8 CVSS 3.1 Critical EPSS 1.4% · top 28.0% CWE-77 · Command injectionCWE-798 · Hard-coded credentials
9.8CVSS 3.1 base score
1.4%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
6References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

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:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://forum.peplink.com/t/peplink-security-advisory-smart-reader-firmware-1-2-0-cve-2023-43491-cve-2023-45209-cve-2023 Vendor Advisory
https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868 ExploitThird Party Advisory
https://forum.peplink.com/t/peplink-security-advisory-smart-reader-firmware-1-2-0-cve-2023-43491-cve-2023-45209-cve-2023 Vendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240822-0008/ Third Party Advisory
https://talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868 ExploitThird Party Advisory
https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2023-1868

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2023-40146), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-27). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.