CVE-2023-3972 Vulnerability Analysis & Exploit Details

CVE-2023-3972
Vulnerability Scoring

7.8
/10
Very High Risk

Highly exploitable, CVE-2023-3972 poses a critical security risk that could lead to severe breaches.

Attack Complexity Details

  • Attack Complexity: Low
    Exploits can be performed without significant complexity or special conditions.
  • Attack Vector: Local
    Vulnerability requires local system access.
  • Privileges Required: Low
    Some privileges are necessary to exploit the vulnerability.
  • Scope: Unchanged
    Exploit remains within the originally vulnerable component.
  • User Interaction: None
    No user interaction is necessary for exploitation.

CVE-2023-3972 Details

Status: Modified

Last updated: 🕗 21 Nov 2024, 08:18 UTC
Originally published on: 🕓 01 Nov 2023, 16:15 UTC

Time between publication and last update: 385 days

CVSS Release: version 3

CVSS3 Source

secalert@redhat.com

CVSS3 Type

Secondary

CVSS3 Vector

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

CVE-2023-3972 Vulnerability Summary

CVE-2023-3972: A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).

Assessing the Risk of CVE-2023-3972

Access Complexity Graph

The exploitability of CVE-2023-3972 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).

Exploitability Analysis for CVE-2023-3972

CVE-2023-3972 presents an accessible attack vector with minimal effort required. Restricting access controls and implementing security updates are critical to reducing exploitation risks.

Understanding AC and PR

A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.

Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.

Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.

CVSS Score Breakdown Chart

Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2023-3972, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.

CIA Impact Analysis

Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2023-3972, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.

  • Confidentiality: High
    Exploiting CVE-2023-3972 can result in unauthorized access to sensitive data, severely compromising data privacy.
  • Integrity: High
    CVE-2023-3972 could allow unauthorized modifications to data, potentially affecting system reliability and trust.
  • Availability: High
    CVE-2023-3972 can disrupt system operations, potentially causing complete denial of service (DoS).

Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS)

The EPSS score estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the near future.

EPSS Score: 0.042% (probability of exploit)

EPSS Percentile: 5.02% (lower percentile = lower relative risk)
This vulnerability is less risky than approximately 94.98% of others.

CVE-2023-3972 References

External References

CWE Common Weakness Enumeration

CWE-379

Vulnerable Configurations

  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.0-4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.0-4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.1-5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.1-5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.2-2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.2-2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:a:redhat:insights-client:3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_aus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_arm_64_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_ibm_z_systems_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_big_endian:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_big_endian:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_power_little_endian_eus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_scientific_computing:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_for_scientific_computing:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_for_power_little_endian_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_update_services_for_sap_solutions:9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
    cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_update_services_for_sap_solutions:8.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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