# CVE-2016-8023: Auth bypass in VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL)

> Remote unauthenticated attackers can bypass server authentication in Intel VirusScan Enterprise Linux by exploiting assumed-immutable data in authentication cookies.

- **Severity:** High 8.1 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Mar 2017
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pm4r-rcgw-h79r

## What is CVE-2016-8023?

CVE-2016-8023 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Intel VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL), published on 14 Mar 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Authentication bypass by assumed-immutable data vulnerability in Intel Security VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL) 2.0.3 (and earlier) allows remote unauthenticated attacker to bypass server authentication via a crafted authentication cookie.

Weakness: CWE-287 (Improper Authentication)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2016-8023?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mcafee Virusscan Enterprise.

## How do I fix CVE-2016-8023?

No fix has been published for CVE-2016-8023 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2016-8023 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-8023 exists.

Public exploit code:

- McAfee Virus Scan Enterprise for Linux 1.9.2 < 2.0.2 - Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Intel VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL)

- [CVE-2009-5118](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-5118/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2020-7266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7266/): Privilege Escalation vulnerability through symbolic links in VSE for Windows (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-7267](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7267/): Privilege Escalation vulnerability through symbolic links in VSEL (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-8024](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8024/): Other in VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL) (high 8.1)
- [CVE-2016-8020](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8020/): Code injection in VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL) (high 8.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2016-8023 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2016-8023 is a high-severity authentication bypass vulnerability in Intel VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL), published on 14 Mar 2017. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2016-8023 exists.

Affected product: Intel VirusScan Enterprise Linux (VSEL). No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8023/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8023/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2016-8023
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-8023
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2016-8023

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-8023/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.