CVE-2023-38408

CRITICAL 9.8CVE-2023-38408 · Published 20/07/2023 · updated 15/10/2026

Package	Affected versions	Patched versions
openssh openbsd	`= 9.3< 9.3`	`9.3`

Description

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.

References

packetstormsecurity.com/files/173661/OpenSSH-Forwarded-SSH-Agent-Remote-Code-Execution.html · Exploit
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/20/1 · Exploit
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/20/2 · Mailing List
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/22/11
openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/22/9
blog.qualys.com/vulnerabilities-threat-research/2023/07/19/cve-2023-38408-remote-code-execution-in-opensshs-forwarded-ssh-agent · Third Party Advisory
openbsd/src commit 7bc29a9 · Patch
openbsd/src commit f03a4fa · Patch
openbsd/src commit f8f5a6b · Patch
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00021.html
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/CEBTJJINE2I3FHAUKKNQWMFGYMLSMWKQ
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RAXVQS6ZYTULFAK3TEJHRLKZALJS3AOU
news.ycombinator.com/item · Issue Tracking
security.gentoo.org/glsa/202307-01 · Third Party Advisory
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230803-0010
support.apple.com/kb/HT213940
openssh.com/security.html · Vendor Advisory
openssh.com/txt/release-9.3p2 · Release Notes
qualys.com/2023/07/19/cve-2023-38408/rce-openssh-forwarded-ssh-agent.txt · Exploit
vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/exploring-opensshs-agent-forwarding-rce-cve-2023-38408
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html

Running one of these products? Scan your site to see whether it exposes a vulnerable version.

Scan my site free