Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-46848

Squid-Cache Squid 5.0.3 – 6.4

Published
03 November 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 8.6
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:N/A:H
EPSS Score 0.10 95th percentile
Risk Priority 71 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-46848 is a high-severity Incorrect Conversion between Numeric Types (CWE-681) vulnerability in Squid-Cache Squid. Its CVSS base score is 8.6 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 5% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

Squid is affected by CVE-2023-46848, a denial-of-service vulnerability that arises when the proxy processes ftp:// URLs supplied inside HTTP request messages or constructed from native FTP input. The flaw is tracked under CWE-681 and carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 8.6, reflecting network attackability without authentication or user interaction and a scope change that can fully impair availability.

A remote attacker can exploit the issue simply by sending crafted requests containing ftp:// URLs, causing the Squid process to crash or become unresponsive and thereby denying service to legitimate users.

Red Hat has issued multiple security updates (RHSA-2023:6266, RHSA-2023:6268, RHSA-2023:6748) and maintains a Bugzilla entry (2245919) that describe the affected packages and provide patched versions for supported Red Hat products. The associated EPSS probability reached a peak of 0.1042 before declining to its current value of 0.0716.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Squid is vulnerable to Denial of Service, where a remote attacker can perform DoS by sending ftp:// URLs in HTTP Request messages or constructing ftp:// URLs from FTP Native input.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2023-46847Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2023-46846Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2023-2203Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2026-5201Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2023-5824Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2023-1476Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2023-6606Same product: Redhat Enterprise Linux
CVE-2026-32748Same product: Squid-Cache Squid
CVE-2025-59362Same product: Squid-Cache Squid
CVE-2026-33526Same product: Squid-Cache Squid

Affected Assets

squid-cache
squid
5.0.3 — 6.4
redhat
enterprise linux
9.0
redhat
enterprise linux eus
9.2
redhat
enterprise linux server aus
9.2
redhat
enterprise linux server tus
9.2

Mitigating Controls

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.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure SDLC practices directly require code reviews, static analysis, and developer training that catch and prevent numeric type-conversion errors.

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.

finds

Security testing can detect numeric conversion defects before release.

prevents

Secure development lifecycle includes type-safety and conversion checks that reduce numeric truncation risks.

prevents

Application security requirements can mandate safe numeric handling and range validation.

prevents

Secure architecture principles promote strong typing and safe conversion practices.

prevents

Secure coding standards directly address correct numeric type conversions and overflow checks.

References