# What is CVE-2023-33248?

> CVE-2023-33248 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.6) in Alexa from Amazon, published on 24 May 2023. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 0.7%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.edgeprotect.io/what-is/cve-2023-33248

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **EdgeProtect risk score:** 44 out of 100 (Medium); action: Plan remediation. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** High (CVSS 7.6 out of 10)
- **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today
- **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 0.7% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 24 May 2023
- **Record last updated:** 16 January 2025
- **Main product:** Alexa from Amazon
- **Affected products:** 2

## What is CVE-2023-33248? In plain terms

An attacker has to be on the same local network without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can change data and take it offline.

### The official description

Amazon Alexa software version 8960323972 on Echo Dot 2nd generation and 3rd generation devices potentially allows attackers to deliver security-relevant commands via an audio signal between 16 and 22 kHz (often outside the range of human adult hearing). Commands at these frequencies are essentially never spoken by authorized actors, but a substantial fraction of the commands are successful.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: On the same local network
- How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions
- Login needed first: No login needed
- Does someone have to click: Yes, a person has to take an action
- What an attacker gets: Can change data and take it offline

Severity vector: `CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:H`

## Is CVE-2023-33248 being exploited? Not that we know of

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.7%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%, 0.7%.

### Timeline

- 24 May 2023: Published
- 16 January 2025: Record last updated

### How EdgeProtect ranks it

CVE-2023-33248 scores **44 out of 100 (Medium)**, with the action "Plan remediation".

Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less:

- Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor
- How severe it is: strong factor
- How widely exposed it is: key context
- Real threat activity around it: key context

85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it.

## Who is affected by CVE-2023-33248?

The published record lists 2 products.

- [Alexa](https://www.edgeprotect.io/product/amazon/alexa) by [Amazon](https://www.edgeprotect.io/vendors/amazon) (Operating system): 8960323972
- [Echo Dot](https://www.edgeprotect.io/product/amazon/echo_dot) by [Amazon](https://www.edgeprotect.io/vendors/amazon) (Hardware): version not specified

## How do I fix CVE-2023-33248?

1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? EdgeProtect can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list.
2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the latest update from the vendor. The references list where the vendor has published details.
3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in.
4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood.

### References

- [arxiv.org](https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.10358) (Third-party advisory)
- [cios2023.org](https://cios2023.org/papers) (Third-party advisory)
- [github.com](https://github.com/reveondivad/nuance) (Exploit, Third-party advisory)
- [sites.google.com](https://sites.google.com/view/nuitattack/home) (Third-party advisory)
- [usenix.org](https://www.usenix.org/system/files/sec23fall-prepub-261-xia-qi.pdf) (Exploit, Technical description, Third-party advisory)
- [youtu.be](https://youtu.be/3gEc5ZFWIWo) (Exploit, Technical description, Third-party advisory)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2023-33248?

CVE-2023-33248 is a high-severity flaw in Alexa from Amazon, published on 24 May 2023. An attacker has to be on the same local network without logging in, but a person has to take an action first. If it works, the attacker can change data and take it offline.

### How serious is CVE-2023-33248?

It scores 7.6 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is high. Our risk score for CVE-2023-33248 is 44 out of 100, which is Medium. Its action is "Plan remediation". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2023-33248 being exploited?

It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 0.7%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2023-33248 affect?

For Alexa from Amazon: 8960323972. The record lists 2 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page.

### How do I fix CVE-2023-33248?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2023-33248 affect you?

EdgeProtect keeps checking for you:

- **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website.
- **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list.
- **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it.
- **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools.

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