CVE-2023-3326

Name: CVE-2023-3326
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2023-06-22T17:15:44.833+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

CRITICALCVSS 9.8/10EPSS 1.10%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2023-3326 is a critical-severity vulnerability rated 9.8/10 on the CVSS scale. pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. EPSS estimates a 1.10% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

1.10%

61.4th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Freebsd	Freebsd	< 12.4
Freebsd	Freebsd	>= 13.0, < 13.1
Freebsd	Freebsd	12.4
Freebsd	Freebsd	13.1
Freebsd	Freebsd	13.2

References

https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-23:04.pam_krb5.ascMitigation, Vendor Advisory
https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-23:09.pam_krb5.asc
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230714-0005/Third Party Advisory
https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-23:04.pam_krb5.ascMitigation, Vendor Advisory
https://security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-23:09.pam_krb5.asc
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230714-0005/Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jun 22, 2023
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-3326?

How severe is CVE-2023-3326?

CVE-2023-3326 has a CVSS score of 9.8/10 (CRITICAL severity). The EPSS model estimates a 1.10% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2023-3326?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2023-3326?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST