Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2023-22745 is a memory-safety flaw in tpm2-tss, software used to interact with TPM 2.0 security hardware. A privileged local attacker could potentially trigger memory corruption that may lead to arbitrary code execution. The practical risk is reduced by required local/admin-level access and high attack complexity.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation during normal security patch cycles, faster on shared systems or sensitive hosts using TPM-backed security workflows. The issue is serious if reachable, but high privileges and local access requirements make broad emergency action less justified from the supplied evidence.
Technical view
Tss2_RC_SetHandler and Tss2_RC_Decode index the layer_handler array using an 8-bit layer value, while the array has fewer valid entries. Out-of-range layer values can cause out-of-bounds read or write. The advisory states this buffer overrun could result in arbitrary code execution.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to environments using affected tpm2-tss versions prior to the fixed releases: 4.1.0-rc0, 4.0.1, and 3.2.2-rc1. Systems where untrusted users can gain privileged local access to TPM-related interfaces are the main concern.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not indicate active exploitation, and KEV status is false. The advisory describes a possible local scenario requiring access to the target machine and local system privileges, usually administrative privilege, which materially narrows the attack population.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on version mapping and downstream backports. The interesting primitive is out-of-bounds access via layer-number handling in response-code decoding and handler registration. Do not assume remote reachability or public exploitation from the supplied sources.
Mitigation direction
- Upgrade tpm2-tss to 4.0.1, 4.1.0-rc0, 3.2.2-rc1, or later fixed builds.
- Apply distribution or vendor package updates that backport the tpm2-tss fix.
- Restrict administrative and TPM interface access to trusted local users only.
- Review vendor guidance for branch-specific fixed versions and supported upgrade paths.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed tpm2-tss versions across endpoints, servers, and images.
- Compare discovered versions against fixed releases named in the advisory.
- Confirm vendor packages include the referenced upstream fixes or equivalent backports.
- Review local privilege boundaries for accounts allowed to access TPM functionality.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-120: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2023-22745 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H0.55.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.4MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-tss/security/advisories/GHSA-4j3v-fh23-vx67CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-tss/commit/306490c8d848c367faa2d9df81f5e69dab46ffb5CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-tss/commit/49107d65d5c7be430671398416bbd89dae4e34e7CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://github.com/tpm2-software/tpm2-tss/commit/7ab42953216adec046d000a5e3085f3ee5e9cabfCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.
