Vxworks
CVE-2023-38346
HIGH
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Impact | CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction not required. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application. |
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Alert meAnalysisAI
An issue was discovered in Wind River VxWorks 6.9 and 7. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, low attack complexity. Public exploit code available.
RemediationAI
A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.
Affects your stack
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Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
This vulnerability is classified as Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. An issue was discovered in Wind River VxWorks 6.9 and 7. The function `tarExtract` implements TAR file extraction and thereby also processes files within an archive that have relative or absolute file paths. A developer using the "tarExtract" function may expect that the function will strip leading slashes from absolute paths or stop processing when encountering relative paths that are outside of the extraction path, unless otherwise forced. This could lead to unexpected and undocumented behavior, which in general could result in a directory traversal, and associated unexpected behavior. Affected products include: Windriver Vxworks.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionNVD
An issue was discovered in Wind River VxWorks 6.9 and 7. The function `tarExtract` implements TAR file extraction and thereby also processes files within an archive that have relative or absolute file paths. A developer using the "tarExtract" function may expect that the function will strip leading slashes from absolute paths or stop processing when encountering relative paths that are outside of the extraction path, unless otherwise forced. This could lead to unexpected and undocumented behavior, which in general could result in a directory traversal, and associated unexpected behavior.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.
Affected Products (CPE)NVD
Wind River VxWorks has a Buffer Overflow in the TCP component (issue 1 of 4). Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this v
IPSSH (aka the SSH server) in Wind River VxWorks 6.5 through 6.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or ca
Wind River VxWorks 6.6 through vx7 has Session Fixation in the TCP component. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulne
An issue was discovered in Wind River VxWorks through 6.8. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is rem
An issue was discovered in Wind River VxWorks before 6.5. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vulnerability is remo
Wind River VxWorks 6.6, 6.7, 6.8, 6.9 and 7 has Incorrect Access Control in the RARP client component. Rated critical se
Wind River VxWorks 6.7 though 6.9 and vx7 has a Buffer Overflow in the TCP component (issue 3 of 4). Rated critical seve
Wind River VxWorks 6.9 and vx7 has a Buffer Overflow in the TCP component (issue 2 of 4). Rated critical severity (CVSS
Wind River VxWorks 6.9 and vx7 has a Buffer Overflow in the IPv4 component. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.8), this vul
Integer overflow in the _authenticate function in svc_auth.c in Wind River VxWorks 5.5 through 6.9.4.1, when the Remote
Wind River VxWorks 6.6 through 6.9 has a Buffer Overflow in the DHCP client component. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), t
IPSSH (aka the SSH server) in Wind River VxWorks 6.5 through 6.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (d
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB