CVE-2023-39808Network attack vector

Root access via fixed SSH credential

Published Aug 21, 2023 · Updated Jul 9, 2026

Hard-coded credentials in NVK iBSG 3.5 allow remote attackers to gain root access through the exposed SSH service. The installation profile assigns every system the same MD5-crypt root-password hash, while OpenSSH 5.3p1 omits PermitRootLogin and therefore permits password-based root login by default. Exploitation requires network access to SSH and knowledge of the corresponding cleartext password; the published hash is shared, but its cleartext value remains undetermined.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.65%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Hard-coded credentials in NVK iBSG 3.5 allow remote attackers to gain root access through the exposed SSH service. The installation profile assigns every system the same MD5-crypt root-password hash, while OpenSSH 5.3p1 omits PermitRootLogin and therefore permits password-based root login by default. Exploitation requires network access to SSH and knowledge of the corresponding cleartext password; the published hash is shared, but its cleartext value remains undetermined.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-39808
Published
Aug 21, 2023
Updated
Jul 9, 2026
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-798, T1078.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 21, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 9, 2026Record 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-798Use of Hard-coded Credentials
T1078.001Default Accounts

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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