Root-level Unix socket access via traversing pipe names
Published Nov 3, 2023 · Updated Nov 20, 2025
Path traversal in Samba 4.16.0 and later allows remote attackers to access arbitrary Unix domain sockets through an SMB named pipe. The smbd local_np_connect path accepts client pipe names containing ../ and resolves them outside its private socket directory while connecting as root. Exploitation requires an existing external Unix socket reachable by the traversed path; resulting access can alter the service or crash it.
Summary
What happened
Path traversal in Samba 4.16.0 and later allows remote attackers to access arbitrary Unix domain sockets through an SMB named pipe. The smbd local_np_connect path accepts client pipe names containing ../ and resolves them outside its private socket directory while connecting as root. Exploitation requires an existing external Unix socket reachable by the traversed path; resulting access can alter the service or crash it.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-3961
- Published
- Nov 3, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 20, 2025
- Vendor
- Red Hat
- Product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Classifications
- CWE-22, T1210
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Nov 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 20, 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?
Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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