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TI-2023-19792 Aliases CVE-2023-38408GHSA-px36-p9hv-7h2v

The PKCS#11 feature in ssh-agent in OpenSSH before 9.3p2 has an insufficiently…

Priority CRITICAL 89CWE-428Published · Updated

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-428.

Summary

The PKCS#11 feature in ssh-agent in OpenSSH before 9.3p2 has an insufficiently trustworthy search path, leading to remote code execution if an agent is forwarded to an attacker-controlled system. (Code in /usr/lib is not necessarily safe for loading into ssh-agent.) NOTE: this issue exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-10009.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.797 99th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 3 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 10 advisories

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
Yes
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
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 5

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 9.3VulnerableOpenBSD
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:9.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:*9.3VulnerableOpenBSD
cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:9.3:p1:*:*:*:*:*:*9.3 p1VulnerableOpenBSD
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:*37VulnerableFedoraproject
cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:*38VulnerableFedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 9.3 Vulnerable ·OpenBSD
  • cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:9.3:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.3 Vulnerable ·OpenBSD
  • cpe:2.3:a:openbsd:openssh:9.3:p1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.3 p1 Vulnerable ·OpenBSD
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:37:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 37 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
  • cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject

Remediation

Red Hat 10 advisories

  • RHSA-2023:4889 Released 2023-08-30 · Red Hat rating Important
    DevWorkspace Operator 0.22 release
    • Devworkspace 1.0 for RHEL 8 devworkspace/devworkspace-operator-bundle, devworkspace/devworkspace-project-clone-rhel8, devworkspace/devworkspace-rhel8-operator
  • RHSA-2023:4428 Released 2023-08-02 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6 ELS) openssh-5.3p1-125.el6_10, openssh-askpass-5.3p1-125.el6_10, openssh-clients-5.3p1-125.el6_10 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6 ELS) openssh-ldap-5.3p1-125.el6_10, pam_ssh_agent_auth-0.9.3-125.el6_10
  • RHSA-2023:4419 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-19.el8_8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) openssh-8.0p1-19.el8_8, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-19.el8_8, openssh-clients-8.0p1-19.el8_8 +4
Show 7 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2023:4413 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-15.el8_6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.6) openssh-8.0p1-15.el8_6, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-15.el8_6, openssh-clients-8.0p1-15.el8_6 +4
  • RHSA-2023:4412 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) openssh-askpass-8.7p1-30.el9_2, pam_ssh_agent_auth-0.10.4-5.30.el9_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) openssh-8.7p1-30.el9_2, openssh-clients-8.7p1-30.el9_2, openssh-keycat-8.7p1-30.el9_2 +1
  • RHSA-2023:4382 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-askpass-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-clients-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) openssh-cavs-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-server-sysvinit-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) openssh-askpass-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-cavs-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-askpass-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-clients-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) openssh-cavs-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-server-sysvinit-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) openssh-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-askpass-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-clients-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) openssh-cavs-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-ldap-7.4p1-23.el7_9, openssh-server-sysvinit-7.4p1-23.el7_9 +1
  • RHSA-2023:4384 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-5.el8_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.2) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-5.el8_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v. 8.2) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-5.el8_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v. 8.2) openssh-8.0p1-5.el8_2, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-5.el8_2, openssh-clients-8.0p1-5.el8_2 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.2) openssh-8.0p1-5.el8_2, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-5.el8_2, openssh-clients-8.0p1-5.el8_2 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v. 8.2) openssh-8.0p1-5.el8_2, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-5.el8_2, openssh-clients-8.0p1-5.el8_2 +4
  • RHSA-2023:4383 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-5.el8_1.1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1) openssh-8.0p1-5.el8_1.1, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-5.el8_1.1, openssh-clients-8.0p1-5.el8_1.1 +4
  • RHSA-2023:4381 Released 2023-08-01 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-7.el8_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-7.el8_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4) openssh-askpass-8.0p1-7.el8_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4) openssh-8.0p1-7.el8_4, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-7.el8_4, openssh-clients-8.0p1-7.el8_4 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.4) openssh-8.0p1-7.el8_4, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-7.el8_4, openssh-clients-8.0p1-7.el8_4 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.4) openssh-8.0p1-7.el8_4, openssh-cavs-8.0p1-7.el8_4, openssh-clients-8.0p1-7.el8_4 +4
  • RHSA-2023:4329 Released 2023-07-31 · Red Hat rating Important
    openssh security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) openssh-askpass-8.7p1-11.el9_0, pam_ssh_agent_auth-0.10.4-4.11.el9_0
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.0) openssh-8.7p1-11.el9_0, openssh-clients-8.7p1-11.el9_0, openssh-keycat-8.7p1-11.el9_0 +1

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Devworkspace 1.0 for RHEL 8Fixed RHSA-2023:4889
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:4419
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2023:4412
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:4384
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:4381
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1)Fixed RHSA-2023:4383
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:4384
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:4381
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2023:4413
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0)Fixed RHSA-2023:4329
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:4384
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:4381
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2023:4419
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2023:4412
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:4384
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS AUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:4381
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.1)Fixed RHSA-2023:4383
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:4384
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:4381
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.8.6)Fixed RHSA-2023:4413
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.0)Fixed RHSA-2023:4329
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v. 8.2)Fixed RHSA-2023:4384
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS TUS (v.8.4)Fixed RHSA-2023:4381
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6 ELS)Fixed RHSA-2023:4428
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6 ELS)Fixed RHSA-2023:4428
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2023:4382

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-38408
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-px36-p9hv-7h2v

References

Exploit 3

Patch 4

Advisory 6

Other 7

Sources

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