CVE-2023-2905Public exploit

Heap over-read via unchecked MQTT property length

Published Aug 9, 2023 · Updated Oct 10, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in Cesanta Mongoose 7.10 allows remote attackers to read beyond an MQTT buffer via a crafted PUBLISH message. The decode_variable_length function reads as many as four property-length bytes without receiving or checking the remaining buffer length. Direct network access to an MQTT endpoint is required; the published payload triggers a one-to-three-byte over-read, and code execution requires a chain.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.01%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Cesanta Mongoose 7.10 allows remote attackers to read beyond an MQTT buffer via a crafted PUBLISH message. The decode_variable_length function reads as many as four property-length bytes without receiving or checking the remaining buffer length. Direct network access to an MQTT endpoint is required; the published payload triggers a one-to-three-byte over-read, and code execution requires a chain.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-2905
Published
Aug 9, 2023
Updated
Oct 10, 2024
Vendor
Cesanta
Product
Mongoose
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-122, T1190
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 9, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 10, 2024Record 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=7.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Cesanta · Mongooseversion=7.10

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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