CVE-2023-27486Network attack vector

Cross-zone SSH access via unchecked credential requests

Published Mar 8, 2023 · Updated Feb 25, 2025

Incorrect authorization in xCAT before 2.16.5 allows local users with root on a managed node to obtain SSH keys for other zones. The credentials plugin accepts a requested zone name and reads that zone's root private key without verifying that the requesting node belongs to the same zone. Zones must be enabled, and root access to one managed node is required; the exposed keys permit SSH access to nodes outside that zone.

CVSS severity8.1
High
EPSS probability0.85%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Incorrect authorization in xCAT before 2.16.5 allows local users with root on a managed node to obtain SSH keys for other zones. The credentials plugin accepts a requested zone name and reads that zone's root private key without verifying that the requesting node belongs to the same zone. Zones must be enabled, and root access to one managed node is required; the exposed keys permit SSH access to nodes outside that zone.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-27486
Published
Mar 8, 2023
Updated
Feb 25, 2025
Vendor
xCAT Consortium
Product
xCAT
Classifications
CWE-863, T1021.004, T1552.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 25, 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=< 2.16.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

xCAT Consortium · xCATversion=< 2.16.5

Published CVSS scores

8.1GitHub CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
8.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-863Incorrect Authorization
T1021.004Remote Services: SSH
T1552.004Unsecured Credentials: Private Keys

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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