# CVE-2023-32251: Kernel: ksmbd brute force delay bypass via asynchronous requests

> Attackers can bypass the ksmbd brute force delay using asynchronous requests, enabling efficient dictionary attacks against credentials.

- **Severity:** Low 3.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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:** 31 Jul 2025
- **Updated:** 30 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-32251, GHSA-7rf9-h4hc-6359, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-32251

## What is CVE-2023-32251?

CVE-2023-32251 is a low-severity vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, published on 31 Jul 2025. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel's ksmbd component (kernel SMB/CIFS server). A security control designed to prevent dictionary attacks, which introduces a 5-second delay during session setup, can be bypassed through the use of asynchronous requests. This bypass negates the intended anti-brute-force protection, potentially allowing attackers to conduct dictionary attacks more efficiently against user credentials or other authentication mechanisms.

Weakness: CWE-307 (Improper Restriction of Excessive Authentication Attempts)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-32251?


## How do I fix CVE-2023-32251?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-32251 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-32251 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-32251 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-32251 is a low-severity vulnerability in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, published on 31 Jul 2025. 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-2023-32251 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10. 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-2023-32251/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32251/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-32251
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-32251
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-32251

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32251/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.