CVE-2023-3972
Insights-client: unsafe handling of temporary files and directories
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.8
Insights-client: unsafe handling of temporary files and directories
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).
- Record
CVE-2023-3972- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-379, CWE-379
- Updated
- 2026-11-07
EUVDEUVD-2023-44597
7.8
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).
- Record
EUVD-2023-44597- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-07
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-37f3-8h34-h4xf
7.8
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file...
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).
- Record
GHSA-37f3-8h34-h4xf- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-379, CWE-668
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.8
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).
- Record
CVE-2023-3972- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-379, CWE-668
- Updated
- 2026-11-07
OSV
7.8
Insights-client: unsafe handling of temporary files and directories
A vulnerability was found in insights-client. This security issue occurs because of insecure file operations or unsafe handling of temporary files and directories that lead to local privilege escalation. Before the insights-client has been registered on the system by root, an unprivileged local user or attacker could create the /var/tmp/insights-client directory (owning the directory with read, write, and execute permissions) on the system. After the insights-client is registered by root, an attacker could then control the directory content that insights are using by putting malicious scripts into it and executing arbitrary code as root (trivially bypassing SELinux protections because insights processes are allowed to disable SELinux system-wide).
- Record
CVE-2023-3972- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-379
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6264
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6264- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
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OSVRHSA-2023:6282
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6282- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6283
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6283- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6284
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6284- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6795
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6795- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6796
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6796- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6798
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6798- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVRHSA-2023:6811
7.8
Red Hat Security Advisory: insights-client security update
- Record
RHSA-2023:6811- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
- redhat insights-client
- redhat enterprise linux
- redhat enterprise linux aus
- redhat enterprise linux desktop
- redhat enterprise linux eus
- redhat enterprise linux for arm 64
- redhat enterprise linux for arm 64 eus
- redhat enterprise linux for ibm z systems
- redhat enterprise linux for ibm z systems eus
- redhat enterprise linux for power big endian
- redhat enterprise linux for power little endian
- redhat enterprise linux for power little endian eus
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- redhat enterprise linux for scientific computing
- redhat enterprise linux server
- redhat enterprise linux server aus
- redhat enterprise linux server for power little endian update services for sap solutions
- redhat enterprise linux server tus
- redhat enterprise linux server update services for sap solutions
- redhat enterprise linux update services for sap solutions
- red hat enterprise linux 6
- red hat enterprise linux 7
- red hat enterprise linux 8
- red hat enterprise linux 8.1 update services for sap solutions
- red hat enterprise linux 8.2 advanced update support
- red hat enterprise linux 8.2 telecommunications update service
- red hat enterprise linux 8.2 update services for sap solutions
- red hat enterprise linux 8.4 advanced mission critical update support
- red hat enterprise linux 8.4 telecommunications update service
- red hat enterprise linux 8.4 update services for sap solutions
- red hat enterprise linux 8.6 extended update support
- red hat enterprise linux 9
- red hat enterprise linux 9.0 extended update support
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_aus:8.2::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_e4s:8.2::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_tus:8.2::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2 |
insights-clientRed Hat:enterprise_linux:9::appstream |
before 0:3.2.2-1.el9_2 | 0:3.2.2-1.el9_2 |
insights-clientRed Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream |
before 0:3.2.2-1.el8_8 | 0:3.2.2-1.el8_8 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_eus:8.6::appstream |
before 0:3.2.2-1.el8_6 | 0:3.2.2-1.el8_6 |
insights-clientRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:3.1.9-1.el7_9 | 0:3.1.9-1.el7_9 |
insights-clientRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:3.1.9-1.el7_9 | 0:3.1.9-1.el7_9 |
insights-clientRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:3.1.9-1.el7_9 | 0:3.1.9-1.el7_9 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_eus:9.0::appstream |
before 0:3.2.2-1.el9_0 | 0:3.2.2-1.el9_0 |
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| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_aus:8.4::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_4 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_4 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_e4s:8.4::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_4 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_4 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_tus:8.4::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_4 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_4 |
insights-clientRed Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream |
before 0:3.2.3-1.el8_1 | 0:3.2.3-1.el8_1 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-3972 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Redhat Insights-client, published November 1, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.27%, the 19th percentile. Fixed in insights-client 0:3.2.3-1.el8_2.
References
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6264
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6282
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6283
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6284
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6795
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6796
Show 19 moreShow less
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6798
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6811
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-3972
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2227027
github.com/RedHatInsights/insights-core/pull/3878
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3972
github.com/advisories/GHSA-37f3-8h34-h4xf
access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/3xxx/CVE-2023-3972.json
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6264.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-3972
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6282.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6283.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6284.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6795.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6796.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6798.json
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2023/rhsa-2023_6811.json