CVE-2023-53159: `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef :set_host` Buffer Over-read Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-xcf7-rvmh-g6q4
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CVSS 4.5
CWE-126
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2023-53159 is a MODERATE (CVSS 4.5) :set_host` buffer over-read vulnerability (CWE-126: Buffer Over-read) affecting `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef libraries in the crates.io ecosystem. The issue involves :set_host` buffer over-read. Remediation is available by upgrading affected packages to version 0.10.55.

CVE-2023-53159 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2023-53159
GHSA Identifier GHSA-xcf7-rvmh-g6q4
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 4.5
CWE Classification CWE-126: Buffer Over-read
Affected Product `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef
Package Ecosystem crates.io
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 4.5

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

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

How to Fix CVE-2023-53159

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

openssl fixed: 0.10.55 
Upgrade openssl to 0.10.55
Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

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

inspect dependencies for openssl

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your application is affected by CVE-2023-53159, inspect your project dependencies for `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef:

inspect dependencies for openssl

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than 0.10.55), your application is affected.

Note: Verify declared build manifests and deployed runtime container environments.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-126: Buffer Over-read, where the product reads from a buffer using buffer access mechanisms such as indexes or pointers that reference memory locations after the targeted buffer. In `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef, 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

When this function was passed an empty string, `openssl` would attempt to call `strlen` on it, reading arbitrary memory until it reached a NUL byte.

CVE-2023-53159 Affected `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef Versions

1 component(s)
Fixed Versions:
0.10.55
Product / Package Ecosystem Affected Versions Fixed Version
openssl
 crates.io
≥ 0.10.0
< 0.10.55
0.10.55

References

NVD — CVE-2023-53159 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53159
`openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl/issues/1965
`openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl/pull/1968
`openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef Source Repository REPOSITORY
https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl
rustsec.org/advisories/rustsec-... WEB
https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2023-0044.html

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2023-53159?
CVE-2023-53159 is a security vulnerability in `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef involving :set_host` buffer over-read under CWE-126: Buffer Over-read.
Which `openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to 0.10.55 across affected packages: openssl.
What version fixes CVE-2023-53159?
Upgrading to 0.10.55 (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
Is openssl affected?
Yes, openssl is affected in releases prior to 0.10.55. Upgrade your dependency to 0.10.55 or later.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2023-53159?
CVE-2023-53159 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 4.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2023-53159?
CVE-2023-53159 is classified under CWE-126: Buffer Over-read (The product reads from a buffer using buffer access mechanisms such as indexes or pointers that reference memory locations after the targeted buffer.).
How can I check crates.io dependencies for CVE-2023-53159?
Run the dependency tree command: 'inspect dependencies for openssl'. 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-xcf7-rvmh-g6q4",
  "modified" : "2025-07-28T15:55:01Z",
  "published" : "2023-06-21T22:07:52Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2023-53159" ],
  "summary" : "`openssl` `X509VerifyParamRef::set_host` buffer over-read",
  "details" : "When this function was passed an empty string, `openssl` would attempt to call `strlen` on it, reading arbitrary memory until it reached a NUL byte.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
    "score" : "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:N/A:L"
  } ],
  "affected" : [ {
    "package" : {
      "ecosystem" : "crates.io",
      "name" : "openssl"
    },
    "ranges" : [ {
      "type" : "ECOSYSTEM",
      "events" : [ {
        "introduced" : "0.10.0"
      }, {
        "fixed" : "0.10.55"
      } ]
    } ]
  } ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-53159"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl/issues/1965"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl/pull/1968"
  }, {
    "type" : "PACKAGE",
    "url" : "https://github.com/sfackler/rust-openssl"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2023-0044.html"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-126" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : true,
    "github_reviewed_at" : "2023-06-21T22:07:52Z",
    "nvd_published_at" : null
  }
}