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TI-2023-12214 Aliases CVE-2023-27486

Insufficient authorization validation between zones when xCAT zones are enabled

Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-863Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Security bypass
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-863.

Summary

xCAT is a toolkit for deployment and administration of computer clusters. In versions prior to 2.16.5 if zones are configured as a mechanism to secure clusters in XCAT, it is possible for a local root user from one node to obtain credentials to SSH to any node in any zone, except the management node of the default zone. XCAT zones are not enabled by default. Only users that use the optional zone feature are impacted. All versions of xCAT prior to xCAT 2.16.5 are vulnerable. This problem has been fixed in xCAT 2.16.5. Users making use of zones should upgrade to 2.16.5. Users unable to upgrade may mitigate the issue by disabling zones or patching the management node with the fix contained in commit `85149c37f49`.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00853 58th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed xcat-core (xcat2): 2.16.5

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
xcat2xcat-corebefore 2.16.52.16.5Patch availableCNA
  • xcat-core Vendorxcat2 Affected before 2.16.5 Fixed in 2.16.5 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:xcat_project:xcat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 2.16.5VulnerableXcat Project
  • cpe:2.3:a:xcat_project:xcat:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 2.16.5 Vulnerable ·Xcat Project

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA xcat-core (xcat2) Fixed in 2.16.5

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat's page for this CVE →

Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-27486

References

Exploit 1

Patch 2

Advisory 1

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences