CVE-2023-32700Public exploit

Arbitrary command execution via exposed io.popen upvalue

Published May 20, 2023 · Updated Jan 31, 2025

Command injection in LuaTeX 1.04 through 1.16.1 allows context-dependent attackers to execute shell commands through a crafted TeX file. The Lua wrapper in luatex-core.lua retains the original io.popen as an upvalue, allowing debug.getupvalue to recover and invoke it despite shell-escape restrictions. Exploitation generally requires a user or service to compile attacker-controlled TeX content; commands run with that process's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in LuaTeX 1.04 through 1.16.1 allows context-dependent attackers to execute shell commands through a crafted TeX file. The Lua wrapper in luatex-core.lua retains the original io.popen as an upvalue, allowing debug.getupvalue to recover and invoke it despite shell-escape restrictions. Exploitation generally requires a user or service to compile attacker-controlled TeX content; commands run with that process's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-32700
Published
May 20, 2023
Updated
Jan 31, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-77, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 31, 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 privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISACVSS:3.1/AV:N/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
T1204.002Malicious File

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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