CVE-2023-3326
Network authentication attack via pam_krb5
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
9.8
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
CVE-2023-3326- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-303, CWE-287
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
Network authentication attack via pam_krb5
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
CVE-2023-3326- Weakness
- CWE-303
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-43994
0.0
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
EUVD-2023-43994- CVSS
- 0.0 None
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-vjhp-527w-c5vj
9.8
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket...
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
GHSA-vjhp-527w-c5vj- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-287, CWE-303
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
9.8
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
CVE-2023-3326- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2023-3326
9.8
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-3326- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-3326
9.8
pam_krb5 authenticates a user by essentially running kinit with the password, getting a ticket-granting ticket (tgt) from the Kerberos KDC (Key Distribution Center) over the network, as a way to verify the password. However, if a keytab is not provisioned on the system, pam_krb5 has no way to validate the response from the KDC, and essentially trusts the tgt provided over the network as being valid. In a non-default FreeBSD installation that leverages pam_krb5 for authentication and does not have a keytab provisioned, an attacker that is able to control both the password and the KDC responses can return a valid tgt, allowing authentication to occur for any user on the system.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-3326- CVSS 3.1
- 9.8 Critical
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libpam-krb5Debian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-14.11-1.14.11-2 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Debian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-2 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Debian:14 |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-2 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.6-24.6-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.7-24.7-2ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.12.5-21.13.1-21.13.2-11.13.3-11.13.4-1 Show 15 moreShow less1.13.4-1ubuntu11.13.4-1ubuntu1.11.13.4-1ubuntu1.21.13.4-1ubuntu1.51.13.4-1ubuntu1.61.13.4-1ubuntu1.71.13.4-1ubuntu1.81.13.4-1ubuntu1.91.13.4-1ubuntu1.101.13.4-1ubuntu1.111.13.4-1ubuntu1.121.13.4-1ubuntu1.131.13.4-1ubuntu1.141.13.4-1ubuntu1.151.13.4-1ubuntu1.15+esm1 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.7-44.8-14.8-1ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 1.15.3-2ubuntu11.15.3-3ubuntu11.16.0-5ubuntu11.16.0-5ubuntu21.16.1-1ubuntu1 Show 9 moreShow less1.16.1-1ubuntu1.11.16.1-1ubuntu1.21.16.1-1ubuntu1.31.16.1-1ubuntu1.41.16.1-1ubuntu1.51.16.1-1ubuntu1.61.16.1-1ubuntu1.71.16.1-1ubuntu1.81.16.1-1ubuntu1.8+esm1 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.8-24.8-2ubuntu1 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.2.0-4ubuntu12.2.2-12.2.2-1ubuntu12.2.3-1.1ubuntu12.2.3-2 Show 14 moreShow less2.2.3-32.2.3-3ubuntu0.12.2.3-3ubuntu0.22.2.3-3ubuntu0.32.2.3-3ubuntu0.42.2.3-3ubuntu0.62.2.3-3ubuntu0.72.2.3-3ubuntu0.82.2.3-3ubuntu0.92.2.3-3ubuntu0.102.2.3-3ubuntu0.112.2.3-3ubuntu0.122.2.3-3ubuntu0.132.2.3-3ubuntu0.13+esm1 |
None known |
Show 10 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.9-2build14.11-14.11-1build1 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.4.1-2ubuntu42.5.2-4ubuntu12.5.2-4ubuntu32.5.2-4ubuntu42.6.1-1ubuntu3 Show 9 moreShow less2.6.3-1ubuntu32.6.3-1ubuntu3.12.6.3-1ubuntu3.22.6.3-1ubuntu3.32.6.3-1ubuntu3.42.6.3-1ubuntu3.52.6.3-1ubuntu3.62.6.3-1ubuntu3.82.6.3-1ubuntu3.9 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-1build14.11-1build24.11-1build3 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.9.1-2ubuntu22.9.1-2ubuntu32.9.2-1ubuntu22.9.4-1ubuntu12.9.4-1.1ubuntu3 Show 10 moreShow less2.9.4-1.1ubuntu52.9.4-1.1ubuntu62.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.12.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.22.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.32.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.42.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.52.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.62.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.72.9.4-1.1ubuntu6.8 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-2 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.10.1-2ubuntu42.10.1-2ubuntu52.10.1-2ubuntu5.12.10.1-2ubuntu5.22.10.1-2ubuntu5.3 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-2build1 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.12.0-1ubuntu52.12.0-4ubuntu12.12.0-4ubuntu22.12.0-4ubuntu32.12.0-4ubuntu4 |
None known |
libpam-krb5Ubuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 4.11-24.11-2build1 |
None known |
sssdUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.10.1-2ubuntu52.10.1-2ubuntu72.12.0-1ubuntu32.12.0-1ubuntu42.12.0-1ubuntu5 Show 5 moreShow less2.12.0-1ubuntu5.12.12.0-1ubuntu5.22.12.0-1ubuntu5.32.12.0-1ubuntu5.42.12.0-1ubuntu5.5 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-3326 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Freebsd, published June 22, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.10%, the 65th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-23:04.pam_krb5.asc
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230714-0005
security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-23:09.pam_krb5.asc
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3326
github.com/advisories/GHSA-vjhp-527w-c5vj
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-3326
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-3326
seclists.org/oss-sec/2023/q2/245
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-3326