Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
OpenSC may reveal private data through timing or behavior differences while removing PKCS#1 encryption padding. The listed severity is medium, but systems using smart cards or tokens for sensitive cryptographic operations should treat it as a real confidentiality risk and apply vendor updates.
Executive priority
Schedule remediation in the normal security patch cycle, with faster action for environments using smart cards or tokens for sensitive authentication, signing, or decryption. There is no provided evidence of active exploitation, but the issue affects private-data protection.
Technical view
CVE-2023-5992 is a CWE-203 side-channel issue in OpenSC's PKCS#1 encryption padding removal. The CVSS 3.1 score is 5.6 with high attack complexity and low confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Red Hat lists affected OpenSC packages for RHEL 7, 8, and 9.
Likely exposure
Most relevant exposure is Linux systems using OpenSC for smart-card or token-backed cryptographic operations. The bundle names affected Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, and 9 OpenSC packages, and includes Fedora and Debian advisory references. Exact non-Red Hat affected versions are not provided in the bundle.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. The CVSS vector indicates network attack vector but high attack complexity. Treat this as a targeted side-channel risk rather than a broadly weaponized internet-scale issue, based only on the provided evidence.
Researcher notes
Evidence is strongest for OpenSC's padding-removal side channel and Red Hat affected package listings. The bundle cites vendor advisories, OpenSC's CVE page, and academic work, but does not include exploit status, full fixed-version detail, or operational compensating controls.
Mitigation direction
- Apply OpenSC updates from the relevant Red Hat, Fedora, or Debian advisory.
- Check vendor CVE pages for exact fixed package versions before remediation.
- Prioritize systems handling sensitive smart-card or token-backed private data.
- Reduce reliance on affected OpenSC PKCS#1 encryption workflows until patched, where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory installed OpenSC packages on RHEL 7, 8, and 9 systems.
- Compare installed versions with vendor advisories and CVE guidance.
- Confirm vulnerability scanners detect CVE-2023-5992 after package inventory updates.
- Identify applications using OpenSC for smart-card or token cryptographic operations.
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-203: Information exposure and cloud metadata lookup
Information exposure and SSRF weaknesses can make discovery, cloud metadata, and credential material review relevant. 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-2023-5992 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
- 5.6 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
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:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L2.23.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.6MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- RHSA-2024:0966CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHSA-2024:0967CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-5992CVE reference · vdb-entry, x_refsource_REDHAT
- RHBZ#2248685CVE reference · issue-tracking, x_refsource_REDHAT
- https://github.com/OpenSC/OpenSC/wiki/CVE-2023-5992CVE reference
- https://www.usenix.org/system/files/usenixsecurity24-shagam.pdfCVE reference
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/OWIZ5ZLO5ECYPLSTESCF7I7PQO5X6ZSU/CVE reference · x_transferred
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/RJI2FWLY24EOPALQ43YPQEZMEP3APPPI/CVE reference · x_transferred
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/UECKC7X4IM4YZQ5KRQMNBNKNOXLZC7RZ/CVE reference · x_transferred
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2024/12/msg00026.htmlCVE reference
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.
Observable Discrepancy
Observable Discrepancy represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.