# CVE-2023-27580: CodeIgniter Shield Password Shucking Vulnerability

> Attackers can easily crack user passwords if they obtain the unsalted SHA-384 hash, compromising user accounts in CodeIgniter Shield.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 25 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c5vj-f36q-p9vg

## What is CVE-2023-27580?

CVE-2023-27580 is a high-severity vulnerability in codeigniter4 shield, published on 13 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

CodeIgniter Shield provides authentication and authorization for the CodeIgniter 4 PHP framework. An improper implementation was found in the password storage process. All hashed passwords stored in Shield v1.0.0-beta.3 or earlier are easier to crack than expected due to the vulnerability. Therefore, they should be removed as soon as possible. If an attacker gets (1) the user's hashed password by Shield, and (2) the hashed password (SHA-384 hash without salt) from somewhere, the attacker may easily crack the user's password. Upgrade to Shield v1.0.0-beta.4 or later to fix this issue. After upgrading, all users’ hashed passwords should be updated (saved to the database). There are no known workarounds.

Weakness: CWE-916 (Use of Password Hash With Insufficient Computational Effort)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-27580?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including codeigniter4/shield. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `codeigniter4/shield` | Packagist | All versions | 1.0.0-beta.4 |
| `codeigniter4/shield` | Packagist | All versions | 1.0.0-beta.4 |

Products: Codeigniter Shield.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-27580?

Upgrade codeigniter4/shield to 1.0.0-beta.4 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-27580 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-27580 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in codeigniter4 shield

- [CVE-2023-48707](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48707/): Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information in codeigniter4/shield (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2023-48708](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-48708/): Insertion of Sensitive Information into Log in codeigniter4/shield (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-27580 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-27580 is a high-severity vulnerability in codeigniter4 shield, published on 13 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-27580 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- codeigniter4/shield (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.0.0-beta.4
- codeigniter4/shield (Packagist): affected all versions; fixed in 1.0.0-beta.4

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-2023-27580/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27580/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-27580
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27580
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-27580

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-27580/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.