CVE-2023-2603: A vulnerability was found in libcap

Q: How do I fix CVE-2023-2603?

libcap: upgrade to 2.69; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2023-2603 being exploited?

CVE-2023-2603 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2023-2603 affect?

CVE-2023-2603 affects libcap, enterprise linux, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). A vulnerability was found in libcap. This issue occurs in the _libcap_strdup() function and can lead to an integer overflow if the input string is close to 4GiB.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2023-2603?

Priority 49/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This month

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-2603 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting libcap, enterprise linux, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A vulnerability was found in libcap. This issue occurs in the _libcap_strdup() function and can lead to an integer overflow if the input string is close to 4GiB.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.6% (top 52%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-190
Published	2023-06-06
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: debian · fedoraproject · libcap project · redhat

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-06-06 20:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:52 UTCUpdated Record last modified

libcap project libcap UPGRADE

Affected: < 2.69

Fixed in: 2.69

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy libcap || rpm -q libcap || libcap --version

2. UPGRADE to 2.69 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade libcap

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade libcap

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 37 · 38

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 37

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 11.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-2603?

libcap: upgrade to 2.69; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-2603 being exploited?

CVE-2023-2603 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-2603 affect?

CVE-2023-2603 affects libcap, enterprise linux, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). A vulnerability was found in libcap. This issue occurs in the _libcap_strdup() function and can lead to an integer overflow if the input string is close to 4GiB.

How urgent is CVE-2023-2603?

Priority 49/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-4878 MEDIUM 6.7 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE A flaw was found in libcap
CVE-2023-2602 LOW 3.3 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability was found in the pthread_create() function in libcap
CVE-2011-4099 MEDIUM 4.6 UPGRADE The capsh program in libcap before 2.22 does not change the current working directory when the --chroot option

References

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