# CVE-2023-43621: Croc may expose secret to local users

> Local attackers can read the shared secret from command-line arguments, exposing sensitive data during file transfers.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.7 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 20 Sep 2023
- **Updated:** 24 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** CLEANSTART-2024-EW13747, GHSA-7g3v-4ggr-xvjf, GO-2023-2069

## What is CVE-2023-43621?

CVE-2023-43621 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Sep 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An issue was discovered in Croc through 9.6.5. The shared secret, located on a command line, can be read by local users who list all processes and their arguments.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-43621?

6 open source packages ship an affected version, including github.com/schollz/croc/v9, github.com/schollz/croc and github.com/schollz/croc/v6. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `github.com/schollz/croc/v9` | Go | All versions | 9.6.16 |
| `github.com/schollz/croc/v9` | Go | All versions | 9.6.16 |
| `github.com/schollz/croc/v9` | Go | All versions | 9.6.16 |
| `github.com/schollz/croc` | Go | All versions | None |
| `github.com/schollz/croc/v6` | Go | All versions | None |
| `github.com/schollz/croc/v8` | Go | All versions | None |

Products: Schollz Croc.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-43621?

Upgrade github.com/schollz/croc/v9 to 9.6.16 or later.

## Is CVE-2023-43621 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-43621 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-43619](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43619/): Croc sender may send dangerous new files to receiver (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-43620](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43620/): Croc sender may place ANSI or CSI escape sequences in filename to attach receiver's terminal device (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-43616](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43616/): Sender can cause a receiver to overwrite files during ZIP extraction in Croc (medium 5.5)
- [CVE-2023-43617](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43617/): Cros secrets may be disclosed to untrusted relay (medium 5.3)
- [CVE-2023-43618](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43618/): Croc requires senders to provide local IP addresses in cleartext (medium 5.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-43621 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-43621 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Sep 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-43621 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- github.com/schollz/croc/v9 (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 9.6.16
- github.com/schollz/croc/v9 (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 9.6.16
- github.com/schollz/croc/v9 (Go): affected all versions; fixed in 9.6.16
- github.com/schollz/croc (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed
- github.com/schollz/croc/v6 (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed
- github.com/schollz/croc/v8 (Go): affected all versions; no fix listed

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-2023-43621/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43621/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-43621
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-43621
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-43621

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-43621/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.