CVE-2023-3326Network attack vector

Authentication bypass via unvalidated KDC response

Published Jun 22, 2023 · Updated Dec 5, 2024

Authentication bypass in pam_krb5 in FreeBSD allows remote attackers to authenticate as any user via spoofed Kerberos KDC responses. When no keytab is provisioned, the module accepts the ticket-granting ticket returned by the contacted KDC without validating a service ticket against a local key. The attack requires a non-default pam_krb5 authentication setup, no keytab, and attacker control of both the submitted password and KDC responses.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication bypass in pam_krb5 in FreeBSD allows remote attackers to authenticate as any user via spoofed Kerberos KDC responses. When no keytab is provisioned, the module accepts the ticket-granting ticket returned by the contacted KDC without validating a service ticket against a local key. The attack requires a non-default pam_krb5 authentication setup, no keytab, and attacker control of both the submitted password and KDC responses.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-3326
Published
Jun 22, 2023
Updated
Dec 5, 2024
Vendor
The FreeBSD Project
Product
FreeBSD
Classifications
CWE-303, CWE-287, CAPEC-114, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Dec 5, 2024Record 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=12.4-RELEASE <12.4-RELEASE-p3
  2. Affected versionversion=13.1-RELEASE <13.1-RELEASE-p8
  3. Affected versionversion=13.2-RELEASE <13.2-RELEASE-p1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The FreeBSD Project · FreeBSDversion=12.4-RELEASE <12.4-RELEASE-p3; version=13.1-RELEASE <13.1-RELEASE-p8; version=13.2-RELEASE <13.2-RELEASE-p1

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-303Incorrect Implementation of Authentication Algorithm
CWE-287Improper Authentication
CAPEC-114Authentication Abuse
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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