CVE-2023-6549: Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway allows Unauthenticated Denial…
Noroxi assessment
Priority: This week (action score 77/100)
- CISA has confirmed exploitation in the wild (Jan 17, 2024). Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Feb 7, 2024.
- A ready-made attack module is public (Nuclei); exploiting it takes no special expertise.
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 57.6% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99% of all records.
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
- According to CISA the attack is automatable: targets can be found by mass scanning.
- Fixed version: Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC 12.35, 37.176, 51.15.
- Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window. Upgrade to Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC 12.35, 37.176, 51.15 or later.
Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it
Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · CISA KEV · FIRST EPSS
Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway allows Unauthenticated Denial of Service and Out-Of-Bounds Memory Read
- Published
- Jan 17, 2024
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 57.6% · 99th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
Report tools
Action score
77
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 30 / 30 · Listed
- EPSS
- 17 / 30 · 57.6%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- active
- Automatable
- yes
- Technical impact
- partial
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 7.5
- CNA · Citrix
- 8.2
- 0.7 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Actively exploited in the wild
CISA added this to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Jan 17, 2024. That signals real attacks, not theory.
Remediation deadline for US federal agencies: Feb 7, 2024.
Get told when this record changes
- In CISA KEV: exploitation in the wild confirmed
- Weaponized exploit exists
- A fix has been released
If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.
Is your version affected? Check itNoroxi analysis
What does it mean in your environment?
The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
Is your version affected?
Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| citrix | netscaler application delivery controller | cpe:2.3:a:citrix:netscaler_application_delivery_controller |
| citrix | netscaler gateway | cpe:2.3:a:citrix:netscaler_gateway |
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (Citrix). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC
- 14.1 and later · before 12.35affected · patch
- 13.1 and later · before 51.15affected · patch
- 13.0 and later · before 92.21affected · patch
- 13.1-FIPS and later · before 37.176affected · patch
- 12.1-FIPS and later · before 55.302affected · patch
- 12.1-NDcPP and later · before 55.302affected · patch
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- citrix netscaler gateway13.0 and later · before 13.0-92.21
- citrix netscaler gateway13.1 and later · before 13.1-51.15
- citrix netscaler gateway14.1 and later · before 14.1-12.35
Same product
citrix: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2023-3519Unauthenticated remote code executionKEV99Now
- CVE-2025-5777NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway - Insufficient input validation leading to memory overreadKEV97Now
- CVE-2026-3055Insufficient input validation leading to memory overreadKEV94Now
Published before and after this one in the same product
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-4967Oct 27, 2023 · Denial of Service in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway when configured as a Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or…30Monitor
- ← EarlierCVE-2023-6548Jan 17, 2024 · Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway allows an attacker with access to NSIP…KEV66This week
- Later →CVE-2024-5491Jul 10, 2024 · Denial of Service in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway in NetScaler28Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC | 12.35 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC | 37.176 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC | 51.15 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC | 55.302 | Vendor (CNA) |
| Cloud Software Group NetScaler ADC | 92.21 | Vendor (CNA) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Nuclei detection template ×1
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclei detection template | Nuclei template CVE-2023-6549 | — |
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
- CISA KEV-1 d
- Published
- TodayNov 13, 2026+1031 d
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
- CVE-2023-496699 days apartUnauthenticated sensitive information disclosureKEV90Now
- CVE-2025-6543525 days apartMemory overflow vulnerability leading to unintended control flow and Denial of ServiceKEV69This week
- CVE-2024-8534300 days apartMemory safety vulnerability leading to memory corruption and Denial of Service33Monitor
- CVE-2023-496782 days apartDenial of Service in NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway when configured as a Gateway (VPN virtual server, ICA Proxy, CVPN, RDP Proxy) or…30Monitor
Bug bounty scope
The product’s vendor appears in a public program. Matched by name; verify the scope text in the program.
National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)
Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.
- TR-24-0035 · Jan 17, 2024(Citrix Güvenlik Bildirimi)
Not on record for this CVE: EPSS history · patch commit or PR link · researcher credit.
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log (1)
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
Show all references (1 more)Show less
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.