CVE-2023-38267Public exploit

Local root escalation via unrestricted snapshot import

Published Jan 11, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

Privilege escalation in IBM Security Verify Access 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1 allows local users to gain root via a crafted snapshot. The setuid-root mesa_config and mesa_cli import paths pass an attacker-supplied snapshot to MainApplySnapshot, which installs it as root. Any local user able to run either utility can obtain root privileges inside the affected appliance or container.

CVSS severity6.2
Medium
EPSS probability0.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in IBM Security Verify Access 10.0.0.0 through 10.0.6.1 allows local users to gain root via a crafted snapshot. The setuid-root mesa_config and mesa_cli import paths pass an attacker-supplied snapshot to MainApplySnapshot, which installs it as root. Any local user able to run either utility can obtain root privileges inside the affected appliance or container.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38267
Published
Jan 11, 2024
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
IBM
Product
IBM Security Verify Access Appliance
Classifications
CWE-311, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 11, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 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=10.0.0.0 <=10.0.6.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

IBM · IBM Security Verify Access Applianceversion=10.0.0.0 <=10.0.6.1
IBM · IBM Security Verify Access Dockerversion=10.0.0.0 <=10.0.6.1

Published CVSS scores

6.2IBM CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/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-311Missing Encryption of Sensitive Data
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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