CVE-2023-38272
Ibm Cloud Pak System 2.3.1.1 … 2.3.4.1
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:NSummary
CVE-2023-38272 is a medium-severity Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint (CWE-300) vulnerability in Ibm Cloud Pak System. Its CVSS base score is 5.9 (Medium).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Adversary-in-the-Middle (T1557); ranked at the 25th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to IA-3 (Device Identification and Authentication) and SC-11 (Trusted Path) — see the control section below for these in your framework.
Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary
Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.
CVE-2023-38272 is a vulnerability in IBM Cloud Pak System versions 2.3.3.0, 2.3.3.3, 2.3.3.3 iFix1, 2.3.3.4, 2.3.3.5, 2.3.3.6, 2.3.3.6 iFix1, 2.3.3.6 iFix2, 2.3.3.7, 2.3.3.7 iFix1, 2.3.4.0, and 2.3.4.1 that could allow a user with access to the network to obtain sensitive information from CLI arguments. Published on 2025-03-27, it is rated 5.9 on the CVSS 3.1 scale (AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N) and maps to CWE-300 (Channel Accessible by Non-Endpoint).
An unauthenticated attacker with network access can exploit this vulnerability, though it requires high attack complexity and no user interaction. Successful exploitation enables the disclosure of sensitive information with high confidentiality impact, without affecting integrity or availability, and with unchanged scope.
IBM has published an advisory with mitigation details at https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7229212.
OWASP Top 10 for Web (2025)
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2023-42092
Vulnerability Data
IBM Cloud Pak System 2.3.3.0, 2.3.3.3, 2.3.3.3 iFix1, 2.3.3.4, 2.3.3.5, 2.3.3.6, 2.3.36 iFix1, 2.3.3.6 iFix2, 2.3.3.7, 2.3.3.7 iFix1, 2.3.4.0, and 2.3.4.1 could allow a user with access to the network to obtain sensitive information from CLI arguments.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Control response
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- 5 hardening rules · 2 OS baselines
V12.3.5
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
IA-3 mandates device identification and authentication prior to establishing communications, addressing the non-endpoint actor risk.
SC-23 enforces session authenticity protections that verify both endpoints and prevent channel manipulation by outsiders.
SC-11 provides an isolated trusted path that cryptographically or physically assures the identities of the two endpoints.
SC-8 directly requires cryptographic or equivalent mechanisms to protect the integrity (and confidentiality) of transmitted data, stopping non-endpoint interference.
AC-17 requires documented usage restrictions and secure configuration for remote access channels, reducing exposure to non-endpoint actors.
IA-2 requires unique identification and authentication of organizational users before any channel use, blocking unauthenticated endpoint access.
Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Enforces authentication of endpoints, mitigating non-endpoint access but not channel integrity itself.
Directly protects integrity of data-in-transit, addressing channel integrity but not endpoint identity verification.
Supports verification of identity assertions exchanged over the channel.
Reduces unauthorized network access that could exploit an unprotected channel.
Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI
Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.
Cryptography provides channel integrity and can support endpoint authentication.
Secure authentication mechanisms verify actor identity at both ends of the channel.
Information transfer policies address secure exchange but are high-level and not technical.
Network security controls directly address channel integrity and endpoint authentication.
Security of network services includes measures to verify endpoints and protect channel integrity.
Network segregation reduces exposure but does not verify endpoint identity or channel integrity.
Hardening callouts derived
Configuration rules from DISA STIG baselines that bear on weaknesses of the type cited by this CVE. Each rule is shown with the relationship its mapping actually records, against the CWE it was authored against. Derived via CVE→CWE over `controls_xwalks` (authoritative rows only; rows rated `none` are excluded).
Oracle Linux 8 (4 rules)
- V-248574 YUM must be configured to prevent the installation of patches, service packs, device drivers, or OL 8 system components that have not been digitally signed using a certificate that is recognized and approved by the organization. prevents CWE-300
- V-248823 OL 8 must not have the telnet-server package installed. prevents CWE-300
- V-248827 OL 8 must not have the rsh-server package installed. prevents CWE-300
Oracle Linux 9 (1 rule)
- V-271462 OL 9 must not have a File Transfer Protocol (FTP) server package installed. prevents CWE-300