CVE-2023-4016

Local denial of service via ps integer overflow

Published Aug 2, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in procps-ng ps 4.0.3 and earlier allows local users to crash ps via an oversized -C argument. The parse_list function multiplies the argument length by the selection-element size without checking for integer overflow, allocates an undersized heap buffer, and then copies data beyond that allocation with strncpy. A low-privileged local account must be able to execute ps with an extremely large argument; the documented consequence is interruption of that ps process, not kernel compromise.

CVSS severity2.5
Low
EPSS probability0.26%
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 procps-ng ps 4.0.3 and earlier allows local users to crash ps via an oversized -C argument. The parse_list function multiplies the argument length by the selection-element size without checking for integer overflow, allocates an undersized heap buffer, and then copies data beyond that allocation with strncpy. A low-privileged local account must be able to execute ps with an extremely large argument; the documented consequence is interruption of that ps process, not kernel compromise.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4016
Published
Aug 2, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Linux Foundation
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-122, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 2, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=3.3.0 (might be earlier) - latest

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Linux Foundation · Linux Kernelversion=3.3.0 (might be earlier) - latest

Published CVSS scores

2.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
2.5TrellixCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
3.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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