Low severity · published Apr 14, 2023
CVE-2023-29383
In Shadow 4.13, it is possible to inject control characters into fields provided to the SUID program chfn (change finger)
3.3
CVSS
0.4%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
In Shadow 4.13, it is possible to inject control characters into fields provided to the SUID program chfn (change finger). Although it is not possible to exploit this directly (e.g., adding a new user fails because \n is in the block list), it is possible to misrepresent the /etc/passwd file when viewed. Use of \r manipulations and Unicode characters to work around blocking of the : character make it possible to give the impression that a new user has been added. In other words, an adversary may be able to convince a system administrator to take the system offline (an indirect, social-engineered denial of service) by demonstrating that "cat /etc/passwd" shows a rogue user account.
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
Low
Availability
None
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.4% · higher than 37% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
SH
Shadow · Shadow Project
4.13 · source: NVD
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX MX5000RE · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1400 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1500 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1501 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1510 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1511 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1512 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1524 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX1536 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
RR
RUGGEDCOM ROX RX5000 · Siemens
before V2.17.0 · source: CISA
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29383
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-29383
Patch
https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow/commit/e5905c4b84d4fb90aefcd96ee618411ebfac663d
Issue Tracking
https://github.com/shadow-maint/shadow/pull/687
Exploit
https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/blogs/spiderlabs-blog/cve-2023-29383-abusing-linux-chfn-to-misrepresent-etc-passwd/
Exploit
https://www.trustwave.com/en-us/resources/security-resources/security-advisories/?fid=31797
lists.debian.org
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2025/04/msg00026.html
cert-portal.siemens.com
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-202008.html
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