CVE-2023-0494

Code execution and privilege escalation via dangling pointer

Published Mar 27, 2023 · Updated Feb 24, 2025

Use-after-free in X.Org Server before 21.1.7 allows local users to elevate privileges or remote attackers to execute code through SSH X forwarding. DeepCopyPointerClasses leaves a dangling pointer while copying device classes, and the XKB device-info handlers then read or write the freed allocation. Exploitation requires X-server access; elevation depends on a privileged server, while SSH X forwarding exposes code execution to the remote X client.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.90%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in X.Org Server before 21.1.7 allows local users to elevate privileges or remote attackers to execute code through SSH X forwarding. DeepCopyPointerClasses leaves a dangling pointer while copying device classes, and the XKB device-info handlers then read or write the freed allocation. Exploitation requires X-server access; elevation depends on a privileged server, while SSH X forwarding exposes code execution to the remote X client.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-0494
Published
Mar 27, 2023
Updated
Feb 24, 2025
Vendor
X.Org
Product
X.Org Server
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 24, 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=xorg-server 21.1.7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

X.Org · X.Org Serverversion=xorg-server 21.1.7

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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