CVE intelligence and bounded remediation

CVE-2023-51767 — Openbsd Openssh security vulnerability

High CVSS 7

OpenSSH through 10.0, when common types of DRAM are used, might allow row hammer attacks (for authentication bypass) because the integer value of authenticated in mm_answer_authpassword does not resist flips of a single bit. NOTE: this is applicable to a certain threat model of attacker-victim co-location in which the attacker has user privileges. NOTE: this is disputed by the Supplier, who states "we do not consider it to be the application's responsibility to defend against platform architectural weaknesses."

Severity
High
CVSS
7 (3.1)
Published
2023-12-24
CISA KEV
Not currently listed
Ecosystem
software/application

Affected products

  • openbsd / openssh
  • fedoraproject / fedora / 39
  • redhat / enterprise_linux / 8.0
  • redhat / enterprise_linux / 9.0

Matched remediation archetype

Authentication bypass and missing authentication

This catalog composition supplies bounded fallback guidance. Explicitly reviewed curated workflows load with the complete record below.

Check exposure

  • Map every affected endpoint and protocol path, including alternate ports, legacy routes, recovery flows, service accounts, and machine-to-machine access.
  • Confirm which deployments enable the affected authentication mode and whether the interface is reachable from untrusted networks.
  • Review session, token, credential, and proxy trust configuration without attempting account takeover.

Remediate safely

  • Apply the supported fix and centralize fail-closed authentication before protected request handling.
  • Remove default or embedded credentials, rotate affected secrets and sessions, and bind authentication decisions to the intended audience and channel.
  • Add negative tests for alternate routes, malformed or absent credentials, recovery flows, and proxy-derived identity.

Authoritative sources

Complete CVE record and remediation plan

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