Local code execution via debug information heap overflow
Published Feb 14, 2023 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Visual Studio allows local users to execute code by supplying crafted debug information. Visual Studio incorrectly handles untrusted debug information and writes beyond a heap buffer while processing it. Exploitation requires low-privilege local access and can execute code in the affected process context; no network service exposure is involved.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft Visual Studio allows local users to execute code by supplying crafted debug information. Visual Studio incorrectly handles untrusted debug information and writes beyond a heap buffer while processing it. Exploitation requires low-privilege local access and can execute code in the affected process context; no network service exposure is involved.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-23381
- Published
- Feb 14, 2023
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2019
- Classifications
- CWE-122, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 19, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=16.11.0 <16.11.24
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
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