CVE-2023-51385: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

CRITICAL
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-5mq4-x9g5-4vc4
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CVSS 9.8
CWE-78
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-51385 is a CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2023-51385 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-51385
GHSA Identifier GHSA-5mq4-x9g5-4vc4
Severity CRITICAL
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 9.8
CWE Classification CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 9.8

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality High (C:H)
Integrity High (I:H)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2023-51385

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release: 

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2023-51385, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection'), where the product constructs all or part of an os command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended os command when it is sent to a downstream component. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

In ssh in OpenSSH before 9.6, OS command injection might occur if a user name or host name has shell metacharacters, and this name is referenced by an expansion token in certain situations. For example, an untrusted Git repository can have a submodule with shell metacharacters in a user name or host name.

References

Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202312-17
support.apple.com/kb/ht214084 WEB
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT214084
NVD — CVE-2023-51385 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-51385
Security Fix Commit FIX COMMIT
https://github.com/openssh/openssh-portable/commit/7ef3787c84b6b524501211b11a26c742f829af1a
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ss... WEB
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ss... WEB
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-769027.html
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ss... WEB
https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-794697.html
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce... WEB
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00017.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240105-0005
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://vin01.github.io/piptagole/ssh/security/openssh/libssh/remote-code-execution/2023/12/20/openssh-proxycommand-libssh-rce.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5586
www.openssh.com/txt/release-9.6 WEB
https://www.openssh.com/txt/release-9.6
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/18/2
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024... WEB
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2024/Mar/21
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/12/26/4
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/07/1
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/12/1

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-51385?
CVE-2023-51385 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection').
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2023-51385?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-51385?
CVE-2023-51385 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-51385?
CVE-2023-51385 is classified under CWE-78: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (The product constructs all or part of an OS command using externally-influenced input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes special elements that could modify the intended OS command when it is sent to a downstream component.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2023-51385?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
View Raw JSON 
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  "id" : "GHSA-5mq4-x9g5-4vc4",
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  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-51385" ],
  "details" : "In ssh in OpenSSH before 9.6, OS command injection might occur if a user name or host name has shell metacharacters, and this name is referenced by an expansion token in certain situations. For example, an untrusted Git repository can have a submodule with shell metacharacters in a user name or host name.",
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    "url" : "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-082556.html"
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
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    "url" : "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00017.html"
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  }, {
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/07/1"
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    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2025/10/12/1"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-78" ],
    "severity" : "CRITICAL",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-12-18T19:15:08Z"
  }
}