CVE-2023-6178Network attack vector

Privileged service interruption via arbitrary file overwrite

Published Nov 20, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Arbitrary file write in Tenable Nessus Agent 10.4.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to interrupt service via rule changes. The managing application accepts attacker-controlled Nessus Rules variable changes that direct the agent to overwrite arbitrary files on its host. The attacker needs privileges in the managing application; the published impact is denial of service, with no reported data disclosure.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file write in Tenable Nessus Agent 10.4.3 and earlier allows remote authenticated users to interrupt service via rule changes. The managing application accepts attacker-controlled Nessus Rules variable changes that direct the agent to overwrite arbitrary files on its host. The attacker needs privileges in the managing application; the published impact is denial of service, with no reported data disclosure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-6178
Published
Nov 20, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Tenable
Product
Nessus Agent
Classifications
CWE-787, CAPEC-23, T1565.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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=0 <10.4.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Tenable · Nessus Agentversion=0 <10.4.3

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H
6.1Tenable Network SecurityCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H/E:P/RL:O/RC:C
6.8Tenable Network SecurityCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/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-787Out-of-bounds Write
CAPEC-23File Content Injection
T1565.001Stored Data Manipulation

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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