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🛡️ CVE-2023-5616 — control-center

🟡 CVSS 4.9 — Medium ⚠️ Exploit Public CWE-290 NVD
4.9
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

In Ubuntu, gnome-control-center did not properly reflect SSH remote login status when the system was configured to use systemd socket activation for openssh-server. This could unknowingly leave the local machine exposed to remote SSH access contrary to expectation of the user.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is high, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality low, integrity low, availability low.

CVSS metrics in full

The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

  • Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
  • Attack complexity: High — the attacker first has to win a race, learn a secret or otherwise prepare the target.
  • Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
  • User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
  • Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
  • Confidentiality impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
  • Integrity impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
  • Availability impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.

Weakness class

CVE-2023-5616 is classified as CWE-290: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing. Identity is inferred from something an attacker can forge, such as a header or address.

Affected software

CVE-2023-5616 is recorded against 2 packages.

  • control-center (from 1.45 up to 1.45.0-1ubuntu3.1)
  • ubuntu-linux

Timeline and source

Published on 15 April 2025 and last revised on 17 June 2026. A public exploit is known to exist, which raises the urgency of patching considerably. Record sourced from NVD.

References

bugs.launchpad.net
ubuntu.com
ubuntu.com

Other advisories for this package

control-center has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:

Same weakness in other software

These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-290: Authentication Bypass by Spoofing) in other software:

CVE-2023-5616 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity MEDIUM
CVSS Score 4.9
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
CWE CWE-290
Public Exploit ⚠️ Yes
Source NVD
Published 2025-04-15
Updated 2026-08-20
Modified 2026-06-17
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
control-center 1.45 1.45.0-1ubuntu3.1
ubuntu-linux — —

Similar Threats

Exploit Protection

Are you running control-center?

CVE-2023-5616 carries CVSS 4.9 Medium rating and a public exploit already exists. BotEraser checks your installation against this and other known CVE records, and blocks IPs associated with exploit activity.

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ⓘ Data Notice: The information presented above has been compiled from publicly available internet sources. Boteraser aggregates this data solely for informational purposes and does not independently classify, evaluate, or endorse any findings about the vulnerabilities listed. The accuracy and completeness of this information is the sole responsibility of the original publishers. Boteraser and its operators accept no liability for any decisions made based on this data.

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