CVE-2023-46894: Esptool Esptool Allows Attackers To View Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-3f38-96qm-r3fw
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-326
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-46894 is a HIGH (CVSS 7.5) esptool allows attackers to view vulnerability (CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength) affecting Esptool libraries in the PyPI ecosystem. The issue involves esptool allows attackers to view sensitive information via weak cryptographic algorithm. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2023-46894 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-46894
GHSA Identifier GHSA-3f38-96qm-r3fw
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength
Affected Product Esptool
Package Ecosystem PyPI
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

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:N/A:N).

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 None (I:N)
Availability None (A:N)

How to Fix CVE-2023-46894

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

esptool fixed: Latest secure release 
pip install esptool>=Latest secure release
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

pip show esptool

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Python environment is affected by CVE-2023-46894, inspect your installed packages using pip:

pip show esptool

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Esptool 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 pip show esptool command checks currently installed packages in your active Python environment.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength, where the product stores or transmits sensitive data using an encryption scheme that is theoretically sound, but is not strong enough for the level of protection required. In Esptool, 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

An issue discovered in esptool 4.6.2 allows attackers to view sensitive information via weak cryptographic algorithm.

CVE-2023-46894 Affected Esptool Versions

1 component(s)
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
esptool
pypi/esptool
PyPI
≤ 4.6.2

References

NVD — CVE-2023-46894 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46894
Esptool Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/espressif/esptool/issues/926
Esptool Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/espressif/esptool
Esptool Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/esptool/PYSEC-2023-234.yaml

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-46894?
CVE-2023-46894 is a security vulnerability in Esptool involving esptool allows attackers to view sensitive information via weak cryptographic algorithm under CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength.
Which Esptool versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches across affected packages: esptool.
What version fixes CVE-2023-46894?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is esptool affected?
Yes, esptool is affected in releases prior to Latest secure release. Upgrade your dependency to Latest secure release or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-46894?
CVE-2023-46894 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (HIGH) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-46894?
CVE-2023-46894 is classified under CWE-326: Inadequate Encryption Strength (The product stores or transmits sensitive data using an encryption scheme that is theoretically sound, but is not strong enough for the level of protection required.).
How can I check PyPI dependencies for CVE-2023-46894?
Run the dependency tree command: 'pip show esptool'. 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 
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-3f38-96qm-r3fw",
  "modified" : "2023-11-15T18:21:59Z",
  "published" : "2023-11-09T18:34:55Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-46894" ],
  "summary" : "esptool allows attackers to view sensitive information via weak cryptographic algorithm",
  "details" : "An issue discovered in esptool 4.6.2 allows attackers to view sensitive information via weak cryptographic algorithm.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "PyPI",
      "name" : "esptool"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0"
      }, {
        "last_affected" : "4.6.2"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-46894"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/espressif/esptool/issues/926"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/espressif/esptool"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/esptool/PYSEC-2023-234.yaml"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-326" ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-11-09T22:10:33Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : "2023-11-09T16:15:34Z"
  }
}