CVE-2023-5255Network attack vector

Certificate-revocation denial via auto-renewal handling

Published Oct 3, 2023 · Updated Sep 19, 2024

Improper resource release in Puppet Enterprise 2023.3 through 2023.4 allows remote authenticated users to prevent certificate revocation. The Puppet Server revocation path fails to revoke certificates issued through auto-renewal; the faulty code operation remains undisclosed. High-privileged network access and an auto-renewed certificate are required, and the certificate remains trusted after a revocation attempt.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper resource release in Puppet Enterprise 2023.3 through 2023.4 allows remote authenticated users to prevent certificate revocation. The Puppet Server revocation path fails to revoke certificates issued through auto-renewal; the faulty code operation remains undisclosed. High-privileged network access and an auto-renewed certificate are required, and the certificate remains trusted after a revocation attempt.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5255
Published
Oct 3, 2023
Updated
Sep 19, 2024
Vendor
BlazeMeter
Product
Puppet Enterprise
Classifications
CWE-404
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 3, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 19, 2024Record 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=Puppet Enterprise 2023.3 <=2023.4
  2. Affected versionversion=Puppet Server 8.2.0 <=8.2.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

BlazeMeter · Puppet Enterpriseversion=Puppet Enterprise 2023.3 <=2023.4; version=Puppet Server 8.2.0 <=8.2.3

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.4Puppet CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/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.

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
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-404Improper Resource Shutdown or Release

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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