Builder command execution via unhashed HTTP download
Published Dec 5, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Code integrity failure in Buildroot 2023.08.1 and dev commit 622698d7847 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute builder commands. The aufs package definition downloads source over HTTP without a .hash file, and check-hash treats the missing file as success before Buildroot executes package Makefiles and patches. Exploitation requires an on-path network position during an aufs-enabled build and grants command execution in the builder plus control of generated target and host files.
Summary
What happened
Code integrity failure in Buildroot 2023.08.1 and dev commit 622698d7847 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute builder commands. The aufs package definition downloads source over HTTP without a .hash file, and check-hash treats the missing file as success before Buildroot executes package Makefiles and patches. Exploitation requires an on-path network position during an aufs-enabled build and grants command execution in the builder plus control of generated target and host files.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-45838
- Published
- Dec 5, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Buildroot
- Product
- Buildroot
- Classifications
- CWE-494, T1195.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 5, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 4, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2023.08.1
- Affected versionversion=dev commit 622698d7847
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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Man-in-the-middle source package proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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