Builder command execution via unchecked firmware download
Published Dec 5, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Missing source integrity checks in Buildroot 2023.08.1 and dev commit 622698d7847 allow man-in-the-middle attackers to execute builder commands. The versal-firmware package has no .hash file, so check-hash accepts its download without verification after HTTPS failure sends retrieval to the default HTTP backup site. An attacker positioned to block the primary HTTPS request and replace the fallback archive can run Makefile or patch commands and alter generated files.
Summary
What happened
Missing source integrity checks in Buildroot 2023.08.1 and dev commit 622698d7847 allow man-in-the-middle attackers to execute builder commands. The versal-firmware package has no .hash file, so check-hash accepts its download without verification after HTTPS failure sends retrieval to the default HTTP backup site. An attacker positioned to block the primary HTTPS request and replace the fallback archive can run Makefile or patch commands and alter generated files.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-45841
- Published
- Dec 5, 2023
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Buildroot
- Product
- Buildroot
- Classifications
- CWE-494, T1557
- 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
- Cisco Talos man-in-the-middle proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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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