CVE-2023-38898Public exploit

Interpreter crash via borrowed task reference

Published Aug 15, 2023 · Updated Oct 8, 2024

Reference-counting error in CPython 3.12.0b1 through 3.12.0b3 allows local users to crash the interpreter via _asyncio._swap_current_task. The function returns a borrowed reference after deleting or replacing its dictionary entry, allowing the referenced task to be deallocated before return. CPython disputes the CVE because no released version is affected and callers able to invoke the private function can already execute arbitrary functions; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash, not new information access.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability1.74%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Reference-counting error in CPython 3.12.0b1 through 3.12.0b3 allows local users to crash the interpreter via _asyncio._swap_current_task. The function returns a borrowed reference after deleting or replacing its dictionary entry, allowing the referenced task to be deallocated before return. CPython disputes the CVE because no released version is affected and callers able to invoke the private function can already execute arbitrary functions; the demonstrated consequence is a process crash, not new information access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-38898
Published
Aug 15, 2023
Updated
Oct 8, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

5.3NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo