# CVE-2023-38497: Cargo not respecting umask when extracting crate archives > Local attackers can modify source code in shared Cargo caches due to improper file permissions, leading to arbitrary code execution for other users. - **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Any signed-in user - **Attackable:** Local or same network only - **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 4 Aug 2023 - **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025 - **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2023-38497, ALSA-2023:4634, ALSA-2023:4635, AZL-28510, CLEANSTART-2026-SJ40187, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-38497, GHSA-j3xp-wfr4-hx87, RHSA-2023:4634, RHSA-2023:4635, RHSA-2023:4651, RHSA-2024:3418, RHSA-2024:3428, RLSA-2023:4634, RLSA-2023:4635, SUSE-SU-2023:3251-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-38497, USN-6275-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:13101-1 ## What is CVE-2023-38497? CVE-2023-38497 is a high-severity vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 4 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. ### Official description Cargo downloads the Rust project’s dependencies and compiles the project. Cargo prior to version 0.72.2, bundled with Rust prior to version 1.71.1, did not respect the umask when extracting crate archives on UNIX-like systems. If the user downloaded a crate containing files writeable by any local user, another local user could exploit this to change the source code compiled and executed by the current user. To prevent existing cached extractions from being exploitable, the Cargo binary version 0.72.2 included in Rust 1.71.1 or later will purge caches generated by older Cargo versions automatically. As a workaround, configure one's system to prevent other local users from accessing the Cargo directory, usually located in `~/.cargo`. Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource), CWE-278 (Insecure Preserved Inherited Permissions) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38497? 2 open source packages ship an affected version, including cargo. It affects 2 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `cargo` | crates.io | All versions | 0.72.2 | | `cargo` | crates.io | All versions | 0.72.2 | | `cargo` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `clippy` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-analysis` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-analyzer` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-debugger-common` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-doc` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-gdb` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-lldb` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-src` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-std-static` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-std-static-wasm32-unknown-unknown` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-std-static-wasm32-wasi` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rust-toolset` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `rustfmt` | AlmaLinux:8 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.module_el8.8.0+3604+b9bee1fc | | `cargo` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `clippy` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-analysis` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-analyzer` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-debugger-common` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-doc` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-gdb` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-lldb` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-src` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-std-static` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-std-static-wasm32-unknown-unknown` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-std-static-wasm32-wasi` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-toolset` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rustfmt` | AlmaLinux:9 | All versions | 1.66.1-2.el9_2 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-cargo` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-clippy` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-rust` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-rust-analysis` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-rust-analyzer` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-rust-debugger-common` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-rust-debuginfo` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | | `rust-toolset-1.66-rust-doc` | Red Hat:devtools:2023::el7 | All versions | 0:1.66.1-2.el7_9 | Products: Fedoraproject Fedora, Rust-Lang Cargo. ## How do I fix CVE-2023-38497? Upgrade cargo to 0.72.2 or later. ## Is CVE-2023-38497 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38497 in the wild and no public exploit code. Public exploit code: - Cargo exploit from CVE-2023-38497 (github_poc): https://github.com/lucas-cauhe/cargo-perm ## Other vulnerabilities in Fedoraproject Fedora - [CVE-2024-4577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4577/): PHP-CGI OS Command Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2021-39226](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-39226/): Grafana Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2019-5544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5544/): VMware ESXi and Horizon DaaS OpenSLP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-4947](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4947/): Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-4671](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-4671/): Google Chromium Visuals Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38497 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2023-38497 is a high-severity vulnerability in Fedoraproject Fedora, published on 4 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38497 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected packages and fixed versions: - cargo (crates.io): affected all versions; fixed in 0.72.2 - cargo (crates.io): affected all versions; fixed in 0.72.2 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-2023-38497/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38497/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38497 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38497 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38497 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38497/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.