# CVE-2023-40661: Opensc: multiple memory issues with pkcs15-init (enrollment tool)

> Attackers with physical access can exploit memory flaws in OpenSC's pkcs15-init tool via malicious smart cards to compromise key generation and card management.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.4 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Nov 2023
- **Updated:** 6 Nov 2025
- **Also known as:** AZL-31944, AZL-35075, CLSA-2026-1779101894, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40661, GHSA-2c2j-2pgv-gfgc, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40661

## What is CVE-2023-40661?

CVE-2023-40661 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Opensc Project Opensc, published on 6 Nov 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

Several memory vulnerabilities were identified within the OpenSC packages, particularly in the card enrollment process using pkcs15-init when a user or administrator enrolls cards. To take advantage of these flaws, an attacker must have physical access to the computer system and employ a custom-crafted USB device or smart card to manipulate responses to APDUs. This manipulation can potentially allow 
compromise key generation, certificate loading, and other card management operations during enrollment.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40661?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Opensc Project Opensc, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40661?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-40661 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-40661 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Opensc Project Opensc

- [CVE-2021-34193](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-34193/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-16058](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16058/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-6502](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-6502/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-2977](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2977/): Memory corruption in OpenSC (high 7.1)
- [CVE-2019-20792](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-20792/): Use after free in n/a (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40661 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40661 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Opensc Project Opensc, published on 6 Nov 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-2023-40661 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Opensc Project Opensc. 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-2023-40661/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40661/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40661
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40661
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40661

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40661/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.