CVE-2023-38408

critical

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

https://github.com/CVEasy/cveasy-mcp

https://github.com/its-arnavtech/Vantage

https://github.com/zebbern/pocmap

https://github.com/janderik/vuln-forge

https://github.com/Mr20x20/pyshield-threat-intel

https://github.com/Ejikemeilo/CVE-Scanner

https://github.com/akrishnash/anamoly_detection

https://github.com/harshweb-cyber/Netscout

https://github.com/Moe1000-stack/network-vuln-scanner

https://github.com/Guppss/VulnScan-Pro

https://github.com/AryanWaghere24/Syntecxhub_CVE_Scanner

https://github.com/arsalan-khan-dev/VulnScan-Pro

https://github.com/aimannurzharfan/netguard-sentinel

https://github.com/aimannurzharfan/Netguard-Sentinel

https://github.com/SallyAboud/Vulnerability-Scanner

https://github.com/youssefelnamer/scanner

https://github.com/Sreejith-nair511/FortressOne-satus

https://github.com/Retr0wq/network-scanner

https://github.com/nonosticisiguzo-command/nmap-scan-results

https://github.com/neeljain21/network-security-scanner

https://github.com/EliV16/sshd-security-checker

https://github.com/Ivandiaztnd/thor-autorecon

https://github.com/AbdulMoiz6692/cve-vulnerability-scanner-pro

https://github.com/aayishaashraf/Syntecxhub_Vulnerability-CVE-Scanner

https://github.com/JakobBartoschek/porthawk

https://github.com/RehmanAjaz/CVE-Scanner

https://github.com/abhi12103606/ThreatVision-SOC

https://github.com/ghostvenumai/ghostvenumai-agent-edition

https://github.com/magicianKaif/Slime-N-Scanner

https://github.com/almas-cp/CVE-classifier

https://github.com/F45elix/network-vuln-scanner

https://github.com/smailbissis-a11y/net-vuln-scanner

https://github.com/OMALICHAC/VulnScout-Network-Vulnerability-Scanner

https://github.com/jakovtodorovic/openSSH-agent-forwarding-vulnerability-analysis-CVE-2023-38408

https://github.com/ctkqiang/QianKunQuan

https://github.com/asif-kabir-emon/ip-vulnerability-monitor-cve-analysis

https://github.com/arielrbrdev/redteamlab1

https://github.com/a-s-m-asadujjaman/exploitables

https://github.com/Adel2411/cyber-combat

https://github.com/krlabs/openssh-vulnerabilities

https://github.com/fazilbaig1/cve_2023_38408_scanner

https://github.com/0xxnum/CVE-2023-38408

https://github.com/classic130/CVE-2023-38408

https://github.com/moabid42/CVE

https://github.com/snowcra5h/CVE-2023-38408

https://www.vicarius.io/vsociety/posts/exploring-opensshs-agent-forwarding-rce-cve-2023-38408

https://www.openssh.com/txt/release-9.3p2

https://www.openssh.com/security.html

https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213940

https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230803-0010/

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36790196

https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/08/msg00021.html

https://github.com/openbsd/src/commit/f8f5a6b003981bb824329dc987d101977beda7ca

https://github.com/openbsd/src/commit/f03a4faa55c4ce0818324701dadbf91988d7351d

https://github.com/openbsd/src/commit/7bc29a9d5cd697290aa056e94ecee6253d3425f8

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/22/9

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/22/11

http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/07/20/1

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/173661/OpenSSH-Forwarded-SSH-Agent-Remote-Code-Execution.html

Details

Source: Mitre, NVD

Published: 2023-07-20

Updated: 2026-06-17

Risk Information

CVSS v2

Base Score: 10

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Severity: Critical

CVSS v3

Base Score: 9.8

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Severity: Critical

EPSS

EPSS: 0.797