CVE-2023-39902

Privilege escalation via FIT memory overwrite

Published Oct 17, 2023 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Privilege escalation in U-Boot SPL before 2023.07 on NXP i.MX 8M processors allows unauthenticated software to execute by supplying a crafted FIT structure. The SPL FIT loader copies attacker-controlled image data without preventing writes over its own memory, enabling code execution during the boot process. Exploitation requires delivery of a malicious boot image to an affected device; successful execution runs with bootloader privileges and can compromise subsequent software loading.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Privilege escalation in U-Boot SPL before 2023.07 on NXP i.MX 8M processors allows unauthenticated software to execute by supplying a crafted FIT structure. The SPL FIT loader copies attacker-controlled image data without preventing writes over its own memory, enabling code execution during the boot process. Exploitation requires delivery of a malicious boot image to an affected device; successful execution runs with bootloader privileges and can compromise subsequent software loading.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-39902
Published
Oct 17, 2023
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
U-Boot Project
Product
U-Boot SPL
Classifications
CWE-281, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <2023.07

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

U-Boot Project · U-Boot SPLversion=0 <2023.07

Published CVSS scores

7.0MITRECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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 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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-281Improper Preservation of Permissions
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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