# CVE-2023-38544: Missing authorization in Secure Access Linux

> A logged-in user can modify system-wide configuration files, compromising network integrity and security on Ivanti Secure Access Linux.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 14 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 29 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7qxh-xwq3-9f5w

## What is CVE-2023-38544?

CVE-2023-38544 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Ivanti Secure Access Linux, published on 14 Nov 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A logged in user can modify specific files that may lead to unauthorized changes in system-wide configuration settings. This vulnerability could be exploited to compromise the integrity and security of the network on the affected system.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-38544?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ivanti Secure Access Client.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-38544?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-38544 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-38544 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38544 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ivanti Secure Access Linux

- [CVE-2026-8992](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-8992/): Security feature bypass in Secure Access Client (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-35080](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35080/): Privilege escalation in Secure Access Client (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-38043](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38043/): Denial of service in Secure Access Client Windows (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-38543](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38543/): Denial of service in Secure Access Client Windows (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-7432](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-7432/): Race condition in Secure Access Client (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-38544 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-38544 is a medium-severity missing authorization vulnerability in Ivanti Secure Access Linux, published on 14 Nov 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-38544 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Ivanti Secure Access Linux. 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-2023-38544/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38544/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38544
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38544
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-38544

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38544/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.