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NVD / CVE Program· CNA redhat

CVE-2023-34966: Samba: infinite loop in mdssvc rpc service for spotlight

HighCVSS 7.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Plan (action score 49/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 62.4% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 99.1% of all records.
  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: ctdb (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.6-1.el8; libnetapi (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.6-1.el8; libnetapi-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.6-1.el8.
  • Mentioned 1 time in Turkish national cyber security advisories (siberguvenlik.gov.tr).

Add it to your regular patch cycle. Upgrade to ctdb (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.6-1.el8; libnetapi (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.6-1.el8; libnetapi-devel (AlmaLinux:8) 4.18.6-1.el8 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

An infinite loop vulnerability was found in Samba's mdssvc RPC service for Spotlight. When parsing Spotlight mdssvc RPC packets sent by the client, the core unmarshalling function sl_unpack_loop() did not validate a field in the network packet that contains the count of elements in an array-like structure. By passing 0 as the count value, the attacked function will run in an endless loop consuming 100% CPU. This flaw allows an attacker to issue a malformed RPC request, triggering an infinite loop, resulting in a denial of service condition.

Published
Jul 20, 2023
Updated
Nov 7, 2026
EPSS
62.4% · 99th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

49

Plan

Add it to your regular patch cycle.

CVSS
30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
19 / 30 · 62.4%

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
7.5
CNA · redhat
7.5
agree

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

Follow CVE-2023-34966

When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
sambasamba
fedoraprojectfedora
redhatenterprise linux
debiandebian linux

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

    • all versionsunknown
    • all versionsunknown

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7

    • all versionsunknown

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

    • 0:4.18.6-1.el8 and laternot affected · rpm
    • 0:4.18.6-1.el8 and laternot affected · rpm

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.6 Extended Update Support

    • 0:4.15.5-15.el8_6 and laternot affected · rpm

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.8 Extended Update Support

    • 0:4.17.5-5.el8_8 and laternot affected · rpm

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

    • 0:4.18.6-100.el9 and laternot affected · rpm
    • 0:4.18.6-100.el9 and laternot affected · rpm

  • Red Hat Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Extended Update Support

    • 0:4.17.5-105.el9_2 and laternot affected · rpm

  • Red Hat Red Hat Storage 3

    • all versionsunknown

  • Red Hat Red Hat Virtualization 4 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

    • 0:4.15.5-15.el8_6 and laternot affected · rpm
Affected versions · NVD (9)

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • debian debian linux11.0
  • debian debian linux12.0
  • fedoraproject fedora37
  • fedoraproject fedora38
  • redhat enterprise linux8.0
  • redhat enterprise linux9.0
  • samba sambabefore 4.16.11
  • samba samba4.18.0 and later · before 4.18.5
  • samba samba4.17.0 and later · before 4.17.10

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
AlmaLinux:8ctdbbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8libnetapibefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8libnetapi-develbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8libsmbclientbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8libsmbclient-develbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8libwbclientbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8libwbclient-develbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8python3-sambabefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8python3-samba-dcbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8python3-samba-develbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8python3-samba-testbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8sambabefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-clientbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-client-libsbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-commonbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-common-libsbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-common-toolsbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-dc-libsbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-dcerpcbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-develbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-krb5-printingbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-ldb-ldap-modulesbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-libsbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8
AlmaLinux:8samba-pidlbefore 4.18.6-1.el84.18.6-1.el8

+96

Same product

samba: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2017-7494Samba since version 3.5.0 and before 4.6.4, 4.5.10 and 4.4.14 is vulnerable to remote code execution vulnerability, allowing a malicious…KEV
    99Now
  • CVE-2015-0240The Netlogon server implementation in smbd in Samba 3.5.x and 3.6.x before 3.6.25, 4.0.x before 4.0.25, 4.1.x before 4.1.17, and 4.2.x…
    66This week
  • CVE-2003-0085Buffer overflow in the SMB/CIFS packet fragment re-assembly code for SMB daemon (smbd) in Samba before 2.2.8, and Samba-TNG before 0.3.1…
    66This week

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2023-0922Apr 3, 2023 · The Samba AD DC administration tool, when operating against a remote LDAP server, will by default send new or reset passwords over a…
    23Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2022-2127Jul 20, 2023 · Samba: out-of-bounds read in winbind auth_crap
    24Monitor
  • Later →CVE-2023-34967Jul 20, 2023 · Samba: type confusion in mdssvc rpc service for spotlight
    39Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
almalinux:ctdb4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:libnetapi4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:libnetapi-devel4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:libsmbclient4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:libsmbclient-devel4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:libwbclient4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:libwbclient-devel4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:python3-samba4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:python3-samba-dc4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:python3-samba-devel4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:python3-samba-test4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
almalinux:samba4.18.6-100.el9 · AlmaLinux:9Package registry (OSV)
debian:samba2:4.17.10+dfsg-0+deb12u1 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
opensuse:samba4.17.9+git.367.dae41ffdd1f-150500.3.5.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.5Package registry (OSV)
red hat:ctdb-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libnetapi-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libsmbclient-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:libwbclient-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:python3-samba-dc-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:python3-samba-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:samba-client0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:samba-client-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:samba-client-libs-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:samba-common-libs-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:samba-common-tools-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:samba-dc-libs-debuginfo0:4.18.6-100.el9 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstreamPackage registry (OSV)
rocky linux:evolution-mapi0:3.28.3-8.el8 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
rocky linux:openchange0:2.3-32.el8 · Rocky Linux:8Package registry (OSV)
suse:samba4.15.13+git.621.c8ae836ff82-3.85.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 12 SP5Package registry (OSV)
suse:samba4.17.9+git.367.dae41ffdd1f-150500.3.5.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5Package registry (OSV)

Exploit status

No known public exploit

No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.

Research context

For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.

Timeline

From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.

No dated events beyond publication.

EPSS, last 120 days

FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).

National notice (Türkiye Cybersecurity Directorate / USOM)

Official security notices citing this record; remediation advice is on the agency's page.

All national notices →

Not on record for this CVE: patch commit or PR link · researcher credit · variant or chain candidate · public bounty program.

Technical details

Attack conditions

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-835 · Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

nvd-primary

Attack context

MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.

MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.

References

Show all references (11 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records