CVE-2023-38497
HIGHDescription
Cargo downloads the Rust project’s dependencies and compiles the project. Cargo prior to version 0.72.2, bundled with Rust prior to version 1.71.1, did not respect the umask when extracting crate archives on UNIX-like systems. If the user downloaded a crate containing files writeable by any local user, another local user could exploit this to change the source code compiled and executed by the current user. To prevent existing cached extractions from being exploitable, the Cargo binary version 0.72.2 included in Rust 1.71.1 or later will purge caches generated by older Cargo versions automatically. As a workaround, configure one's system to prevent other local users from accessing the Cargo directory, usually located in `~/.cargo`.
How to fix
This vulnerability affects an unusually large number of packages. The highest-confidence fixes are shown above; the full list is longer. Check the referenced advisories for complete coverage.
TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works
Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.
CVSS v3 Vector
Exploitability
Impact
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N
Exploit Intelligence
Moderate risk: more likely to be exploited than 51% of all known CVEs.
References
Related Vulnerabilities
Other CWE-278 vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all
| CVE | Severity | CVSS | EPSS | Exploited | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVE-2024-36538 | High | 8.8 | 0.6% | - | - |
| CVE-2024-37769 | High | 8.8 | 0.5% | - | - |
| CVE-2025-2947 | High | 7.2 | 0.4% | - | - |
| CVE-2026-6265 | High | 8.8 | 0.3% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2024-38531 | Low | 3.6 | 0.1% | - | Fix |
| CVE-2026-71477 | Medium | 6.7 | 0.1% | - | - |
Common questions
How do I fix CVE-2023-38497?
Published advisories record a fix for 164 affected products. The "How to fix" section on this page lists the fixed version and source advisory for each one, so apply the entry matching what you actually run.
Is CVE-2023-38497 being actively exploited?
Not that we know of. CVE-2023-38497 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.70% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 51% of all scored CVEs.
How severe is CVE-2023-38497?
CVE-2023-38497 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.9, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.
What does CVE-2023-38497 affect?
Published advisories record a fix for cargo (Red Hat / RHEL), cargo (Rocky), cargo-0:1.58.1 (Red Hat / RHEL), cargo-0:1.58.1 (Rocky), and 160 more. Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2024-11-21.