CVE-2022-44368Public exploit

Assembler crash via null pointer dereference

Published Mar 29, 2023 · Updated Feb 18, 2025

Null pointer dereference in NASM 2.16 allows local users to crash the assembler by causing it to process a crafted input file. The obj_directive routine in output/outobj.c dereferences a null pointer while handling malformed object-output directives; public material does not identify the exact field or state that becomes null. Exploitation requires a user or build process to invoke the command-line tool on attacker-controlled source, and the bounded consequence is termination of that NASM process.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.31%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Null pointer dereference in NASM 2.16 allows local users to crash the assembler by causing it to process a crafted input file. The obj_directive routine in output/outobj.c dereferences a null pointer while handling malformed object-output directives; public material does not identify the exact field or state that becomes null. Exploitation requires a user or build process to invoke the command-line tool on attacker-controlled source, and the bounded consequence is termination of that NASM process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-44368
Published
Mar 29, 2023
Updated
Feb 18, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 29, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 18, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

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

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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