CVE-2022-23089

Kernel crash via unchecked process-argument length

Published Feb 15, 2024 · Updated Mar 13, 2025

An out-of-bounds read in the FreeBSD kernel allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted ps_strings value. During ELF core-dump generation, elf_note_prpsinfo() fails to reject a zero or negative sbuf length returned by proc_getargv() before reading the argument buffer. A low-privileged local user must alter its own ps_strings data and trigger core dumping; the demonstrated consequence is a system crash.

CVSS severity4.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

An out-of-bounds read in the FreeBSD kernel allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted ps_strings value. During ELF core-dump generation, elf_note_prpsinfo() fails to reject a zero or negative sbuf length returned by proc_getargv() before reading the argument buffer. A low-privileged local user must alter its own ps_strings data and trigger core dumping; the demonstrated consequence is a system crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-23089
Published
Feb 15, 2024
Updated
Mar 13, 2025
Vendor
The FreeBSD Project
Product
FreeBSD
Classifications
CWE-125, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 15, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 13, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=12.3-RELEASE <p6
  2. Affected versionversion=13.0-RELEASE <p12
  3. Affected versionversion=13.1-RELEASE <p1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The FreeBSD Project · FreeBSDversion=12.3-RELEASE <p6; version=13.0-RELEASE <p12; version=13.1-RELEASE <p1

Published CVSS scores

4.7CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo