Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This issue weakens a Linux kernel SMB server protection that slows password guessing. Attackers who can reach ksmbd may bypass the intended 5-second delay and try credentials faster. It is low severity because it does not directly run code or change data, but it can increase credential-attack pressure where ksmbd is exposed.
Executive priority
Treat this as a credential-risk hardening item, not an emergency incident. Prioritize internet- or partner-facing ksmbd exposure first, then fold kernel remediation and monitoring into normal vulnerability management unless local evidence shows active password guessing.
Technical view
CVE-2023-32251 affects Linux kernel ksmbd session setup handling. Asynchronous requests can bypass the anti-dictionary-attack delay, mapping to CWE-307. The supplied CVSS is 3.7 with network attack vector, high complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and low confidentiality impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to systems using the Linux kernel SMB/CIFS server, ksmbd, especially kernels in the supplied affected 6.0, 6.1, 6.2, and 6.3 range. The bundle lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 kernel packages as unaffected.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The issue would support faster dictionary attacks against reachable ksmbd authentication, not direct compromise by itself. Exploitation still depends on network reachability, ksmbd use, and credential strength.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies an anti-brute-force delay bypass through asynchronous session setup requests. Public data in the bundle does not provide exploit status, affected non-Linux products, or distribution-specific fixed package versions. Avoid assuming Samba user-space smbd exposure unless ksmbd is confirmed.
Mitigation direction
- Follow Linux distribution guidance for kernels containing the ksmbd fix.
- Review the referenced upstream kernel commit for remediation context.
- Limit SMB exposure to trusted networks where operationally possible.
- Confirm Red Hat environments match the listed unaffected status.
- Strengthen credential and lockout monitoring around SMB authentication.
Validation and detection
- Inventory systems running the Linux kernel ksmbd SMB/CIFS server.
- Compare running kernel versions with vendor advisories and the affected range.
- Verify whether ksmbd is reachable from untrusted networks.
- Review authentication logs for abnormal session setup or password-guessing patterns.
- Document unaffected Red Hat assets separately from potentially affected Linux systems.
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-307: 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 lookupCVE-2023-32251 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
- Low
- CVSS
- 3.7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
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.
SSVC decision data
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:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N2.21.4redhatVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
3.7LowVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- Source timelineredhat
Made public.
- Source timelineredhat
Reported to Red Hat.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-32251CVE reference, redhat · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2385852CVE reference, redhat · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/torvalds/linux.git/commit/?id=b096d97f47326b1e2dbdef1c91fab69ffda54d17CVE reference, redhat
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-23-699/CVE reference, redhat
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.
Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts
Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.