Crash and memory disclosure via unchecked array index
Published Sep 25, 2023 · Updated Sep 24, 2024
Heap out-of-bounds read in gawk before 5.1.1 allows local users to crash the process or read sensitive memory via a crafted file. The builtin.c argument-processing path uses an attacker-controlled val value as an index into the_args without checking that it names a valid array element. Exploitation requires a user or application to process the crafted file with gawk, bounding the impact to the invoked process and memory readable in that context.
Summary
What happened
Heap out-of-bounds read in gawk before 5.1.1 allows local users to crash the process or read sensitive memory via a crafted file. The builtin.c argument-processing path uses an attacker-controlled val value as an index into the_args without checking that it names a valid array element. Exploitation requires a user or application to process the crafted file with gawk, bounding the impact to the invoked process and memory readable in that context.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-4156
- Published
- Sep 25, 2023
- Updated
- Sep 24, 2024
- Vendor
- Red Hat
- Product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Classifications
- CWE-125, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 25, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 24, 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 versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- GNU gawk crafted-file reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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