CVE-2023-38336Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Arbitrary command execution via unfiltered filenames

Published Jul 14, 2023 · Updated Oct 30, 2024

Command injection in netkit-rcp from rsh-client 0.17-24 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands through crafted filenames. The susystem() function in rcp/rcp.c appends source or destination filenames unchanged to a /bin/cp command string and passes it to /bin/sh -c. An attacker must control a copy source or destination filename; commands run with the invoking user's privileges because the SUID process drops privileges.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability2.06%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in netkit-rcp from rsh-client 0.17-24 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands through crafted filenames. The susystem() function in rcp/rcp.c appends source or destination filenames unchanged to a /bin/cp command string and passes it to /bin/sh -c. An attacker must control a copy source or destination filename; commands run with the invoking user's privileges because the SUID process drops privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38336
Published
Jul 14, 2023
Updated
Oct 30, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1059.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 30, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

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.

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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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1059.004Unix Shell

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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