CVE-2023-30382

Privilege escalation via oversized launch parameters

Published May 23, 2023 · Updated Jan 17, 2025

Stack-based buffer overflow in Valve Half-Life through build 5433873 allows local users to execute code through crafted launch parameters. CCommandLine::CreateCmdLine allocates a 4,096-byte buffer, and CCommandLine::LoadParametersFromFile copies an unrestricted command line into it. A low-privileged user must modify Steam's globally writable localconfig.vdf and wait for a more privileged user to launch the game; successful exploitation runs code as that user.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Valve Half-Life through build 5433873 allows local users to execute code through crafted launch parameters. CCommandLine::CreateCmdLine allocates a 4,096-byte buffer, and CCommandLine::LoadParametersFromFile copies an unrestricted command line into it. A low-privileged user must modify Steam's globally writable localconfig.vdf and wait for a more privileged user to launch the game; successful exploitation runs code as that user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-30382
Published
May 23, 2023
Updated
Jan 17, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 23, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 17, 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.3NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.2JUMPSEC LabsCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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