Distribution advisory
This page covers CVE-2023-4641 as tracked by Debian, for the package shadow. The fix is available in version 1:4.13+dfsg1-2; earlier versions remain affected.
How this vulnerability can be exploited
This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs low-level privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity none, availability none.
CVSS metrics in full
The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
- Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
- Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
- Privileges required: Low — an ordinary user account is enough.
- User interaction: None — nobody has to be tricked into anything.
- Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality impact: High — total loss, or loss the attacker controls.
- Integrity impact: None.
- Availability impact: None.
Weakness class
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-4641 is classified as CWE-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm. The requirements for the product dictate the use of an established authentication algorithm, but the implementation of the algorithm is incorrect.
Affected software
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-4641 is recorded against 1 package.
- shadow (fixed in 1:4.13+dfsg1-2)
Timeline and source
Published on 27 December 2023 and last revised on 7 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from OSV.
References
security-tracker.debian.org (Advisory)
Other advisories for this package
shadow 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-303: Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm) in other software:
