CVE-2023-3961

Samba: smbd allows client access to unix domain sockets on the file system as root

publishedCWE-22

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. Samba typically uses this mechanism to connect SMB clients to remote procedure call (RPC) services like SAMR LSA or SPOOLSS, which Samba initiates on demand. However, due to inadequate sanitization of incoming client pipe names, allowing a client to send a pipe name containing Unix directory traversal characters (../). This could result in SMB clients connecting as root to Unix domain sockets outside the private directory. If an attacker or client managed to send a pipe name resolving to an external service using an existing Unix domain socket, it could potentially lead to unauthorized access to the service and consequential adverse events, including compromise or service crashes.

Technical severity9.1 criticalCVSS 3.1 · CNA: redhat

Published2023-11-03Source updated 2026-11-07

Collected2026-11-072 attributed sources

Fixes and workarounds

Workaround

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.

Source: CNA: redhat

Affected products and versions

Affected products, source version ranges and reporting authorities
Product	Versions	Authority
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.18.6-2.el8_9; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.15.5-13.el8_6; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Extended Update Support Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.17.5-4.el8_8; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.18.6-101.el9_3; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.0 Extended Update Support Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.15.5-111.el9_0; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.17.5-104.el9_2; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Virtualization 4 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	≥ 0:4.15.5-13.el8_6; < * (unaffected, rpm) Other versions: affected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	Range not reported Other versions: unaffected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 Red Hat `samba4` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	Range not reported Other versions: unaffected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	Range not reported Other versions: unaffected	CNA: redhat
Red Hat Storage 3 Red Hat `samba` https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/	Range not reported Other versions: unknown	CNA: redhat

Version ranges are source assertions. Check the vendor advisory and your installed configuration before determining exposure.

CVSS assessments

CVSS scores, vectors and reporting authorities
Version / score	Vector	Authority
3.1 / 9.1 critical	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H`	CNA: redhat

Exploit evidence

No exploit evidence in collected sources. This is not proof of no exploitation.

References

https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6209CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6744CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7371CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7408CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7464CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7467CNA: redhat · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-3961CNA: redhat · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2241881CNA: redhat · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=15422CNA: redhat
https://www.samba.org/samba/security/CVE-2023-3961.htmlCNA: redhat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6209ADP: CVE · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6744ADP: CVE · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7371ADP: CVE · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7408ADP: CVE · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7464ADP: CVE · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7467ADP: CVE · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-3961ADP: CVE · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2241881ADP: CVE · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT, x_transferred
https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=15422ADP: CVE · x_transferred
https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/ZUMVALLFFDFC53JZMUWA6HPD7HUGAP5I/ADP: CVE · x_transferred
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20231124-0002/ADP: CVE · x_transferred
https://www.samba.org/samba/security/CVE-2023-3961.htmlADP: CVE · x_transferred

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