CVE-2023-51839Network attack vector

Authentication-pattern disclosure via DES-ECB encryption

Published Jan 29, 2024 · Updated Jun 20, 2025

Broken cryptography in DeviceFarmer STF 3.6.6 allows remote attackers to infer patterns in DES-ECB-protected VNC authentication data. The encrypt function in lib/util/vncauth.js derives an eight-byte DES key from the VNC password and applies ECB mode without an IV to the challenge. Network reachability is required; public sources do not demonstrate password recovery, session impersonation, or privilege escalation from the pattern leakage.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability0.38%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Broken cryptography in DeviceFarmer STF 3.6.6 allows remote attackers to infer patterns in DES-ECB-protected VNC authentication data. The encrypt function in lib/util/vncauth.js derives an eight-byte DES key from the VNC password and applies ECB mode without an IV to the challenge. Network reachability is required; public sources do not demonstrate password recovery, session impersonation, or privilege escalation from the pattern leakage.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51839
Published
Jan 29, 2024
Updated
Jun 20, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-327
Attack vector
network
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 29, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 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 buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
9.1CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-327Use of a Broken or Risky Cryptographic Algorithm

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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