---
id: CVE-2023-3961
title: >-
  Samba: smbd allows client access to unix domain sockets on the file system as
  root
summary: >-
  A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client
  pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. Samba
  typically uses this mechanism to connect SMB clients to remote procedure call
  (R…
severity: critical
cvss: 9.1
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H'
cvssSource: cna
cwe:
  - CWE-22
vendor: Red Hat
product: samba
affected:
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba (all versions)
  - samba
  - samba4
  - samba
  - samba
published: '2023-11-03'
updated: '2026-11-07'
sourceUpdated: '2026-11-07T11:32:44.499Z'
source: CVEORG
sourceUrl: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-3961'
references:
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6209'
    label: 'RHSA-2023:6209'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:6744'
    label: 'RHSA-2023:6744'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7371'
    label: 'RHSA-2023:7371'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7408'
    label: 'RHSA-2023:7408'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7464'
    label: 'RHSA-2023:7464'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2023:7467'
    label: 'RHSA-2023:7467'
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-3961'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2241881'
    label: RHBZ#2241881
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.samba.org/show_bug.cgi?id=15422'
  - url: 'https://www.samba.org/samba/security/CVE-2023-3961.html'
tags:
  - cve.org
epss: 0.02688
epssPercentile: 0.85949
ingestedAt: '2026-11-07T12:16:41.108Z'
---

## Overview

A path traversal vulnerability was identified in Samba when processing client pipe names connecting to Unix domain sockets within a private directory. Samba typically uses this mechanism to connect SMB clients to remote procedure call (RPC) services like SAMR LSA or SPOOLSS, which Samba initiates on demand. However, due to inadequate sanitization of incoming client pipe names, allowing a client to send a pipe name containing Unix directory traversal characters (../). This could result in SMB clients connecting as root to Unix domain sockets outside the private directory. If an attacker or client managed to send a pipe name resolving to an external service using an existing Unix domain socket, it could potentially lead to unauthorized access to the service and consequential adverse events, including compromise or service crashes.

## Affected

- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba (all versions)`
- `samba`
- `samba4`
- `samba`
- `samba`

## Remediation

Refer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.

### Workarounds

Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.