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Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-38686

🗓️ 21 Aug 2025 00:00:00Reported by TenableType 
nessus
 nessus
🔗 www.tenable.com👁 2 Views

Unpatched Sydent TLS SMTP verify bug CVE-2023-38686 lets MITM; patch to 2.5.6; ensure trusted certs.

Related
Refs
Code
ReporterTitlePublishedViews
Family
Circl
CVE-2023-38686
4 Aug 202320:41
circl
CNNVD
Matrix Sydent Trust Management Issues Vulnerabilities
4 Aug 202300:00
cnnvd
CVE
CVE-2023-38686
4 Aug 202315:57
cve
Cvelist
CVE-2023-38686 Sydent does not verify email server certificates
4 Aug 202315:57
cvelist
Debian CVE
CVE-2023-38686
4 Aug 202315:57
debiancve
EUVD
EUVD-2023-0132
3 Oct 202520:07
euvd
Github Security Blog
Sydent does not verify email server certificates
31 Jul 202322:03
github
NVD
CVE-2023-38686
4 Aug 202316:15
nvd
OSV
CVE-2023-38686 Sydent does not verify email server certificates
4 Aug 202315:57
osv
OSV
GHSA-P6HW-WM59-3G5G Sydent does not verify email server certificates
31 Jul 202322:03
osv
Rows per page
#%NASL_MIN_LEVEL 80900
##
# (C) Tenable, Inc.
##

include('compat.inc');

if (description)
{
  script_id(253147);
  script_version("1.1");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_modification_date", value:"2025/08/21");

  script_cve_id("CVE-2023-38686");

  script_name(english:"Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2023-38686");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"synopsis", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed with a vulnerability that the vendor indicates will not be
patched.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"description", value:
"The Linux/Unix host has one or more packages installed that are impacted by a vulnerability without a vendor supplied
patch available.

  - Sydent is an identity server for the Matrix communications protocol. Prior to version 2.5.6, if configured
    to send emails using TLS, Sydent does not verify SMTP servers' certificates. This makes Sydent's emails
    vulnerable to interception via a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack. Attackers with privileged access to the
    network can intercept room invitations and address confirmation emails. This is patched in Sydent 2.5.6.
    When patching, make sure that Sydent trusts the certificate of the server it is connecting to. This should
    happen automatically when using properly issued certificates. Those who use self-signed certificates
    should make sure to copy their Certification Authority certificate, or their self signed certificate if
    using only one, to the trust store of your operating system. As a workaround, one can ensure Sydent's
    emails fail to send by setting the configured SMTP server to a loopback or non-routable address under
    one's control which does not have a listening SMTP server. (CVE-2023-38686)

Note that Nessus relies on the presence of the package as reported by the vendor.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"see_also", value:"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-38686");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"solution", value:
"There is no known solution at this time.");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"agent", value:"unix");
  script_set_cvss_base_vector("CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:N");
  script_set_cvss_temporal_vector("CVSS2#E:U/RL:OF/RC:C");
  script_set_cvss3_base_vector("CVSS:3.0/AV:A/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N");
  script_set_cvss3_temporal_vector("CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cvss_score_source", value:"CVE-2023-38686");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploitability_ease", value:"No known exploits are available");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"exploit_available", value:"false");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vendor_unpatched", value:"true");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"vuln_publication_date", value:"2023/07/31");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_publication_date", value:"2025/08/21");

  script_set_attribute(attribute:"plugin_type", value:"local");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:22.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"cpe:/o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:24.04:-:lts");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"cpe", value:"p-cpe:/a:canonical:ubuntu_linux:matrix-sydent");
  script_set_attribute(attribute:"generated_plugin", value:"current");
  script_end_attributes();

  script_category(ACT_GATHER_INFO);
  script_family(english:"Misc.");

  script_copyright(english:"This script is Copyright (C) 2025 and is owned by Tenable, Inc. or an Affiliate thereof.");

  script_dependencies("ssh_get_info2.nasl", "set_linux_os_id.nasl");
  script_require_keys("Host/cpu", "Host/local_checks_enabled", "global_settings/vendor_unpatched", "Host/OS/identifier");
  script_require_ports("Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-22.04", "Host/OS/Ubuntu Linux-24.04");

  exit(0);
}

if (!get_kb_item("global_settings/vendor_unpatched")) exit(0, "Unpatched Vulnerabilities Detection not active.");
if (!get_kb_item("Host/local_checks_enabled")) audit(AUDIT_LOCAL_CHECKS_NOT_ENABLED);
if (empty_or_null(get_one_kb_item("Host/Debian/dpkg-l"))) audit(AUDIT_PACKAGE_LIST_MISSING);

include('linux_unpatched.inc');

var distro_constraints_array = {
  "Ubuntu Linux-22.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "22.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "matrix-sydent"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  },
  "Ubuntu Linux-24.04": {
    "package_manager": "dpkg-l",
    "constraints": [
      {
        "release": "24.04",
        "pkgs": [
          {"reference": "matrix-sydent"}
        ]
      }
    ]
  }
};

var distro_constraints_values = linux_unpatched::get_distro_constraints(distro_constraints_arr:distro_constraints_array);
if (empty_or_null(distro_constraints_values)) audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
var report = linux_unpatched::check_unpatched_constraints(distro_constraints_values:distro_constraints_values);

if (!empty_or_null(report))
{
  security_report_v4(
      port       : 0,
      severity   : SECURITY_WARNING,
      extra      : report
  );
  exit(0);
}
else
{
  audit(AUDIT_HOST_NOT, 'affected');
}

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21 Aug 2025 00:00Current
6.7Medium risk
Vulners AI Score6.7
CVSS 3.15.3 - 9.3
EPSS0.00064
SSVC
2