CVE-2023-0216Network attack vector

Application crash via unchecked PKCS7 object data

Published Feb 8, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in OpenSSL 3.0.0 through 3.0.7 allows attackers to crash applications via malformed PKCS7 data. PKCS7 decoding can leave p7->d.ptr unset, but ossl_pkcs7_resolve_libctx and its signer and recipient helpers dereference the union member without checking it. Exposure requires a third-party application to pass untrusted PKCS7 data to the affected decoding functions; OpenSSL TLS does not call them.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.85%
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 OpenSSL 3.0.0 through 3.0.7 allows attackers to crash applications via malformed PKCS7 data. PKCS7 decoding can leave p7->d.ptr unset, but ossl_pkcs7_resolve_libctx and its signer and recipient helpers dereference the union member without checking it. Exposure requires a third-party application to pass untrusted PKCS7 data to the affected decoding functions; OpenSSL TLS does not call them.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0216
Published
Feb 8, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
OpenSSL Project
Product
OpenSSL
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 8, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=3.0.0 <3.0.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

OpenSSL Project · OpenSSLversion=3.0.0 <3.0.8

Published CVSS scores

7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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

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Your stack

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