CVE-2023-4163

Kernel panic via oversized port buffer input

Published Aug 31, 2023 · Updated Jun 26, 2025

Buffer overflow in Brocade Fabric OS before 9.2.0a allows local users with privileged access to cause a kernel panic via oversized CLI input. The portcfgfportbuffers command copies large input into fixed-size buffers without a sufficient bounds check. Reaching the flaw requires authenticated privileged CLI access, and successful exploitation crashes the switch kernel rather than changing data or executing code.

CVSS severity4.4
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in Brocade Fabric OS before 9.2.0a allows local users with privileged access to cause a kernel panic via oversized CLI input. The portcfgfportbuffers command copies large input into fixed-size buffers without a sufficient bounds check. Reaching the flaw requires authenticated privileged CLI access, and successful exploitation crashes the switch kernel rather than changing data or executing code.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4163
Published
Aug 31, 2023
Updated
Jun 26, 2025
Vendor
Brocade Communications Systems
Product
Brocade Fabric OS
Classifications
CWE-120, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 31, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 26, 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=Fabric OS before v9.2.0a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Brocade Communications Systems · Brocade Fabric OSversion=Fabric OS before v9.2.0a

Published CVSS scores

4.4Brocade Communications Systems, LLCCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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