# CVE-2023-3489: firmwaredownload command could log servers passwords in clear text

> Brocade Fabric OS logs FTP/SFTP/SCP passwords in clear text during firmware downgrades, exposing credentials to anyone with access to SupportSave files.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/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:** No
- **Published:** 30 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qw3m-jfhw-49pg

## What is CVE-2023-3489?

CVE-2023-3489 is a high-severity vulnerability in Broadcom Fabric Operating System, published on 30 Aug 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The 
firmwaredownload command on Brocade Fabric OS v9.2.0 could log the 
FTP/SFTP/SCP server password in clear text in the SupportSave file when 
performing a downgrade from Fabric OS v9.2.0 to any earlier version of 
Fabric OS.

Weakness: CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-3489?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Broadcom Fabric Operating System.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-3489?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-3489 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-3489 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-3489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Broadcom Fabric Operating System

- [CVE-2025-1976](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-1976/): Broadcom Brocade Fabric OS Code Injection (high 8.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-22555](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-22555/): Linux Kernel Heap Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.3, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-33186](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-33186/): Command injection in Brocade Fabric OS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-27797](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27797/): Hardcoded credentials in Brocade Fabric OS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-15371](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-15371/): Code injection in Brocade Fabric OS (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-3489 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-3489 is a high-severity vulnerability in Broadcom Fabric Operating System, published on 30 Aug 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-2023-3489 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Broadcom Fabric Operating System. 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-2023-3489/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3489/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-3489
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-3489
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-3489

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-3489/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.