CVE-2023-38545Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Heap corruption via oversized SOCKS5 hostname copy

Published Oct 18, 2023 · Updated Jul 14, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in curl and libcurl 7.69.0 through 8.3.0 allows remote attackers to corrupt heap memory via a crafted URL. The SOCKS5 state machine can retain the remote-resolution flag during a slow handshake, then copy a hostname longer than the download buffer instead of a resolved address. Exploitation requires SOCKS5 hostname resolution, a sufficiently small receive buffer, and client interaction with an attacker-controlled URL; the overflow can terminate the process or corrupt adjacent heap data.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability78.48%
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 curl and libcurl 7.69.0 through 8.3.0 allows remote attackers to corrupt heap memory via a crafted URL. The SOCKS5 state machine can retain the remote-resolution flag during a slow handshake, then copy a hostname longer than the download buffer instead of a resolved address. Exploitation requires SOCKS5 hostname resolution, a sufficiently small receive buffer, and client interaction with an attacker-controlled URL; the overflow can terminate the process or corrupt adjacent heap data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38545
Published
Oct 18, 2023
Updated
Jul 14, 2026
Vendor
Siemens
Product
SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFP
Classifications
CWE-122, CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 18, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 14, 2026Record 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=V3.1.5 <*

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Siemens · SIPLUS S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFPversion=V3.1.5 <*
Siemens · RUGGEDCOM APE1808version=0 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518F-4 PN/DP MFPversion=V3.1.5 <*
Siemens · SIMATIC S7-1500 CPU 1518-4 PN/DP MFPversion=V3.1.5 <*
curl · curlversion=8.4.0 <8.4.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8CISA ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Siemens ProductCERTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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