CVE-2023-4641 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A flaw was discovered in shadow-utils that could potentially lead to a password leak during the password change process. This vulnerability poses a medium risk with a CVSS base score of 4.7.

Understanding CVE-2023-4641

This CVE identifies a security issue within the shadow-utils package related to potential password leakage during the password change operation. The vulnerability arises when the system fails to properly clean the buffer after a failed password attempt, leaving sensitive information exposed.

What is CVE-2023-4641?

CVE-2023-4641 is a vulnerability in the shadow-utils package that can be exploited by an attacker with sufficient access to retrieve passwords from memory. The flaw occurs during password changes, where unsuccessful attempts may result in the password being retained in memory.

The Impact of CVE-2023-4641

The impact of this vulnerability is significant, as it could potentially lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information by malicious actors. Exploiting this flaw could compromise the security and confidentiality of user passwords stored on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-4641

This section delves into the technical aspects of the vulnerability, including its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in shadow-utils allows for the retention of passwords in memory after a failed password change attempt. This oversight could enable attackers with enough privileges to extract sensitive information and potentially compromise system security.

Affected Systems and Versions

The following systems and versions are impacted by CVE-2023-4641:

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8: Versions 2:4.6-19.el8 are affected.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9: Versions 2:4.9-8.el9 are affected.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6: The specific impact on versions is currently unknown.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7: The specific impact on versions is currently unknown.

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker with low privileges who can trigger a failed password change attempt. By manipulating the system to mishandle the password buffer, the attacker could potentially extract sensitive information stored in memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2023-4641 and prevent any potential exploitation, it is crucial to take immediate action and implement long-term security measures.

Immediate Steps to Take

Red Hat Enterprise Linux users should monitor security advisories and apply relevant patches promptly.
System administrators should enforce strict password policies and user access controls to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply security patches to address known vulnerabilities.
Conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify and remediate potential weaknesses within the system.

Patching and Updates

Red Hat has released patches to address the vulnerability in the shadow-utils package. Users are advised to update their systems to the latest patched versions to mitigate the risk of exploitation.