CVE-2023-38850Public exploit

Process crash via out-of-bounds string read

Published Aug 15, 2023 · Updated Oct 8, 2024

Heap buffer overflow in Michael R Sweet codedoc 3.7 allows local users to crash the process by processing a crafted source file. The highlight_c_string function reads one byte before a one-byte heap allocation while syntax-highlighting the supplied content. Exploitation requires codedoc to process attacker-supplied local input; the demonstrated consequence is an abort of the codedoc process.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap buffer overflow in Michael R Sweet codedoc 3.7 allows local users to crash the process by processing a crafted source file. The highlight_c_string function reads one byte before a one-byte heap allocation while syntax-highlighting the supplied content. Exploitation requires codedoc to process attacker-supplied local input; the demonstrated consequence is an abort of the codedoc process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38850
Published
Aug 15, 2023
Updated
Oct 8, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 8, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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