CVE-2020-9054 Zyxel Multiple NAS Devices OS Command Injection Vulnerability
Multiple Zyxel network-attached storage (NAS) devices contain a pre-authentication command injection vulnerability, which may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code.
From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.
Should You Worry?
- CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 25 Mar 2022.
- Rated Critical severity (CVSS 9.8, scored by CISA).
- It has been in the catalogue for 1,687 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
What It Is
Multiple ZyXEL network-attached storage (NAS) devices running firmware version 5.21 contain a pre-authentication command injection vulnerability, which may allow a remote, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on a vulnerable device. ZyXEL NAS devices achieve authentication by using the weblogin.cgi CGI executable. This program fails to properly sanitize the username parameter that is passed to it. If the username parameter contains certain characters, it can allow command injection with the privileges of the web server that runs on the ZyXEL device. Although the web server does not run as the root user, ZyXEL devices include a setuid utility that can be leveraged to run any command with root privileges. As such, it should be assumed that exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to remote code execution with root privileges. By sending a specially-crafted HTTP POST or GET request to a vulnerable ZyXEL device, a remote, unauthenticated attacker may be able to execute arbitrary code on the device. This may happen by directly connecting to a device if it is directly exposed to an attacker. However, there are ways to trigger such crafted requests even if an attacker does not have direct connectivity to a vulnerable devices. For example, simply visiting a website can result in the compromise of any ZyXEL device that is reachable from the client system. Affected products include: NAS326 before firmware V5.21(AAZF.7)C0 NAS520 before firmware V5.21(AASZ.3)C0 NAS540 before firmware V5.21(AATB.4)C0 NAS542 before firmware V5.21(ABAG.4)C0 ZyXEL has made firmware updates available for NAS326, NAS520, NAS540, and NAS542 devices. Affected models that are end-of-support: NSA210, NSA220, NSA220+, NSA221, NSA310, NSA310S, NSA320, NSA320S, NSA325 and NSA325v2
Affected Versions
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| ZyXEL NAS326 | V5.21(AAZF.7)C0 to V5.21(AAZF.7)C0 |
| ZyXEL NAS520 | V5.21(AASZ.3)C0 to V5.21(AASZ.3)C0 |
| ZyXEL NAS540 | V5.21(AATB.4)C0 to V5.21(AATB.4)C0 |
| ZyXEL NAS542 | V5.21(ABAG.4)C0 to V5.21(ABAG.4)C0 |
| ZyXEL NSA210 | all |
| ZyXEL NSA220 | all |
From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.
What To Do Now
- 1
Find it
Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Zyxel Multiple Network-Attached Storage (NAS) Devices. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.
Attack Surface Management - 2
- 3
Hunt for compromise
If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.
Incident Response - 4
Prove it is fixed
Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.
Penetration Testing
Vendor Advisories
The Compliance Clock
General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.
Not Sure If You Are Exposed?
Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2020-9054 and every other exploited flaw on the list.
Sources
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
- NVD: CVE-2020-9054
- CVE record: CVE-2020-9054
- FIRST EPSS
- cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/78.html
- zyxel.com/support/remote-code-execution-vulnerability-of-NAS-products.shtml
- kb.cert.org/vuls/id/498544/
- kb.cert.org/artifacts/cve-2020-9054.html
- krebsonsecurity.com/2020/02/zyxel-fixes-0day-in-network-storage-devices/
