CVE-2023-43090: A vulnerability was found in GNOME Shell

Routine

MEDIUM 5.5UPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-43090 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting gnome-shell, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A vulnerability was found in GNOME Shell. GNOME Shell's lock screen allows an unauthenticated local user to view windows of the locked desktop session by using keyboard shortcuts to unlock the restricted functionality of the screenshot tool.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 77%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-862
Published	2023-09-22
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Fedora Project · Vendor: fedoraproject · gnome

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-09-22 06:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:25 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnome gnome-shell UPGRADE

Affected: >= 43 and < 43.9 · >= 44 and < 44.5 · 42

Fixed in: 43.9, 44.5

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 42

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gnome-shell || rpm -q gnome-shell || gnome-shell --version

2. UPGRADE to 43.9 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade gnome-shell

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade gnome-shell

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 42 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison gnome-shell sudo apt install gnome-shell=<VERSION_BEFORE_42> sudo apt-mark hold gnome-shell

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

dnf --showduplicates list gnome-shell sudo dnf downgrade gnome-shell-<VERSION_BEFORE_42> sudo dnf versionlock add gnome-shell

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.

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-2023-43090?

gnome-shell: upgrade to 43.9, 44.5; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-43090 being exploited?

CVE-2023-43090 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-2023-43090 affect?

CVE-2023-43090 affects gnome-shell, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). A vulnerability was found in GNOME Shell. GNOME Shell's lock screen allows an unauthenticated local user to view windows of the locked desktop session by using keyboard shortcuts to unlock the restricted functionality of the screenshot tool

How urgent is CVE-2023-43090?

Priority 30/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

Windows vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2021-3982 MEDIUM 5.5 MITIGATE Linux distributions using CAP_SYS_NICE for gnome-shell may be exposed to a privilege escalation issue
CVE-2021-20315 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE A locking protection bypass flaw was found in some versions of gnome-shell as shipped within CentOS Stream 8,
CVE-2020-17489 MEDIUM 4.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in certain configurations of GNOME gnome-shell through 3.36.4

References

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