# CVE-2023-7016: Privilege Escalation in SafeNet Authentication Client

> Local attackers can execute code with SYSTEM privileges in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client on Windows.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** No
- **Published:** 27 Feb 2024
- **Updated:** 15 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5v43-2gf4-x7p5

## What is CVE-2023-7016?

CVE-2023-7016 is a high-severity vulnerability in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client, published on 27 Feb 2024. 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

A flaw in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client prior to 10.8 R10 on Windows allows an attacker to execute code at a SYSTEM level via local access.

Weakness: CWE-269 (Improper Privilege Management)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-7016?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Thalesgroup Safenet Authentication Client.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-7016?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-7016 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-7016 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-7016 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- POC for the flaw in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client prior to 10.8 R10 on Windows that allows an attacker to execute code at a SYSTEM level via local access. (github_poc): https://github.com/ewilded/CVE-2023-7016-POC

## Other vulnerabilities in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client

- [CVE-2023-5993](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-5993/): Privilege Escalation in SafeNet Authentication Client Installer (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-42056](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42056/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 6.7)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-7016 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-7016 is a high-severity vulnerability in Thales SafeNet Authentication Client, published on 27 Feb 2024. 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-2023-7016 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Thales SafeNet Authentication Client. 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-2023-7016/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7016/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-7016
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-7016
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-7016

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-7016/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.