CVE-2023-3899: A vulnerability was found in subscription-manager that allows local privilege escalation due to inadequate aut

Routine

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-3899 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting subscription-manager, fedora, enterprise linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A vulnerability was found in subscription-manager that allows local privilege escalation due to inadequate authorization. The D-Bus interface com.redhat.RHSM1 exposes a significant number of methods to all users that could change the state of the registration. By using the com.redhat.RHSM1.Config.SetAll() method, a low-privileged local user could tamper with the state of the registration, by unregistering the system or by changing the current ent

Why this priority

High severity
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	0.2% (top 85%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-285, CWE-863
Published	2023-08-23
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-08-23 11:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:15 UTCUpdated Record last modified

redhat subscription-manager UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.28.39 · >= 1.29.0 and < 1.29.37

Fixed in: 1.28.39, 1.29.37

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.29.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy subscription-manager || rpm -q subscription-manager || subscription-manager --version

2. UPGRADE to 1.28.39 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade subscription-manager

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade subscription-manager

Note

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

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.29.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison subscription-manager sudo apt install subscription-manager=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.29.0> sudo apt-mark hold subscription-manager

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list subscription-manager sudo dnf downgrade subscription-manager-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.29.0> sudo dnf versionlock add subscription-manager

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

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.

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.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

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.

redhat enterprise linux eus MITIGATE

Affected: 8.6 · 8.8 · 9.0 · 9.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.6

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.

redhat enterprise linux for arm 64 MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0 · 9.2

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.

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-2023-3899?

subscription-manager: upgrade to 1.28.39, 1.29.37; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-3899 being exploited?

CVE-2023-3899 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-2023-3899 affect?

CVE-2023-3899 affects subscription-manager, fedora, enterprise linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). A vulnerability was found in subscription-manager that allows local privilege escalation due to inadequate authorization. The D-Bus interface com.redhat.RHSM1 exposes a significant number of methods to all users that could change the state

How urgent is CVE-2023-3899?

Priority 36/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-41415 MEDIUM 6.1 DOWNGRADE Subscription-Manager v1.0 /main.js has a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the machineDetail paramet

References

← Back to latest CVEs