CVE-2023-36476Public exploit

LUKS key disclosure via plaintext initrd archive

Published Jun 29, 2023 · Updated Nov 27, 2024

Information exposure in NixOS calamares-nixos-extensions 0.3.12 and earlier allows local users to read LUKS key material. The installer module adds crypto_keyfile.bin to boot.initrd.secrets, embedding the key in a plaintext CPIO archive within unencrypted /boot. Exposure requires graphical Calamares installation on a non-UEFI system or with a LUKS partition other than /; nixos-install is unaffected.

CVSS severity9.0
Critical
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Information exposure in NixOS calamares-nixos-extensions 0.3.12 and earlier allows local users to read LUKS key material. The installer module adds crypto_keyfile.bin to boot.initrd.secrets, embedding the key in a plaintext CPIO archive within unencrypted /boot. Exposure requires graphical Calamares installation on a non-UEFI system or with a LUKS partition other than /; nixos-install is unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-36476
Published
Jun 29, 2023
Updated
Nov 27, 2024
Vendor
NixOS
Product
calamares-nixos-extensions
Classifications
CWE-522, CWE-256, CWE-200, T1552.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 29, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 27, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=<= 0.3.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

NixOS · calamares-nixos-extensionsversion=<= 0.3.12

Published CVSS scores

9.0GitHub Security AdvisoryCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-522Insufficiently Protected Credentials
CWE-256Plaintext Storage of a Password
CWE-200Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
T1552.001Unsecured Credentials: Credentials In Files

Public exploit references

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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