CVE-2023-23928Network attack vector

Authorization bypass via unchecked HS256 signatures

Published Feb 1, 2023 · Updated Mar 10, 2025

Improper JWS signature verification in OCaml-JOSE before 0.8.2 allows remote attackers to bypass authorization with forged HS256 tokens. In Jose.Jws.validate, the HS256 path hashes the supplied signature and compares it with a plain SHA-256 digest of the signing input instead of comparing the signature with a keyed HMAC over that input. A reachable service is exposed when it relies on JWS claims without additional checks, allowing altered header or payload claims to cross its authorization boundary.

CVSS severity5.9
Medium
EPSS probability0.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper JWS signature verification in OCaml-JOSE before 0.8.2 allows remote attackers to bypass authorization with forged HS256 tokens. In Jose.Jws.validate, the HS256 path hashes the supplied signature and compares it with a plain SHA-256 digest of the signing input instead of comparing the signature with a keyed HMAC over that input. A reachable service is exposed when it relies on JWS claims without additional checks, allowing altered header or payload claims to cross its authorization boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-23928
Published
Feb 1, 2023
Updated
Mar 10, 2025
Vendor
Ulrik Strid
Product
OCaml-JOSE
Classifications
CWE-347, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 10, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.8.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Ulrik Strid · OCaml-JOSEversion=< 0.8.2

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.9GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-347Improper Verification of Cryptographic Signature
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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