# NetScaler ADC/Gateway unauthenticated RCE (CVE-2023-3519) · pwn.watch

> An unauthenticated code injection in NetScaler ADC and Gateway was exploited as a zero-day to plant webshells, including on a US critical infrastructure organisation in June 2023. Citrix patched it on July 18, 2023.

Page: https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519 · generated 2026-10-22T22:00:08.805Z

## Status
- Severity: critical · status: closed · patch: patched
- Product: Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway
- Started: 2023-07-18 · closed: 2023-07-20
- CVEs: CVE-2023-3519
- Affected: NetScaler ADC and Gateway configured as a Gateway or AAA virtual server; exact builds: see vendor advisory
- Fixed in: 13.1-49.13; 13.0-91.13; FIPS/NDcPP builds: see vendor advisory

## Follow this incident
- RSS (one item per update): https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519/feed.xml
- JSON Feed: https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519/feed.json
- Full data (timeline, sources, posts, agentBrief): https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519.json
- This file: https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519/llms.txt

## Updates (newest first)
- 2023-07-20: CISA advisory AA23-201A: webshell dropped on a critical infrastructure organisation's NetScaler in June 2023 (https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-201a)
- 2023-07-19: CISA adds CVE-2023-3519 to the KEV catalog
- 2023-07-18: Citrix publishes CTX561482 and fixed builds; exploits seen on unmitigated appliances (https://support.citrix.com/external/article/CTX561482/citrix-adc-and-citrix-gateway-security-b.html)

## Fix brief
# Security brief: NetScaler ADC/Gateway unauthenticated RCE (CVE-2023-3519)

Source: https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519 · status: closed (closed Jul 20, 2023) · severity: critical · updated Jul 20, 2023

## Patch status
**PATCHED: fixed releases exist. Upgrade to a fixed version.**

## What it is
An unauthenticated code injection in NetScaler ADC and Gateway was exploited as a zero-day to plant webshells, including on a US critical infrastructure organisation in June 2023. Citrix patched it on July 18, 2023.

Severity detail: CVSS 9.8 (NVD), zero-day, actively exploited (CISA KEV), known ransomware use

- Product: Citrix NetScaler ADC and NetScaler Gateway
- CVE / advisory ids: CVE-2023-3519

## Affected versions
- NetScaler ADC and Gateway configured as a Gateway or AAA virtual server; exact builds: see vendor advisory

## Check whether you're affected
No generic command applies (the product is a hosted service, appliance or desktop app). Check the installed version in its admin UI / About screen and compare with the versions above.

## Fix
Upgrade to one of these fixed versions (or later on the same branch):
- 13.1-49.13
- 13.0-91.13
- FIPS/NDcPP builds: see vendor advisory

After upgrading, re-run the checks above and redeploy/restart the affected services.

## Latest updates
- Jul 20, 2023: CISA advisory AA23-201A: webshell dropped on a critical infrastructure organisation's NetScaler in June 2023
- Jul 19, 2023: CISA adds CVE-2023-3519 to the KEV catalog
- Jul 18, 2023: Citrix publishes CTX561482 and fixed builds; exploits seen on unmitigated appliances

## Advisories
- [Citrix ADC and Citrix Gateway Security Bulletin for CVE-2023-3519, CVE-2023-3466, CVE-2023-3467](https://support.citrix.com/external/article/CTX561482/citrix-adc-and-citrix-gateway-security-b.html) (Citrix)
- [Threat Actors Exploiting Citrix CVE-2023-3519 to Implant Webshells (AA23-201A)](https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/cybersecurity-advisories/aa23-201a) (CISA)
- [NVD: CVE-2023-3519](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3519) (NVD)
- [CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog](https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog) (CISA)

---
Machine-readable: https://pwn.watch/i/citrix-netscaler-rce-cve-2023-3519.json · all incidents: https://pwn.watch/incidents.json. Verify against the vendor advisory before changing production systems.