CVE-2023-42363Public exploit

Process crash via dangling AWK field pointer

Published Nov 27, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Use-after-free in the BusyBox 1.36.1 AWK applet allows local users to crash the process by running a crafted AWK program. While evaluating two field operands, evaluate() can let the right operand reallocate Fields after retaining a pointer to the left field, then pass that dangling pointer through getvar_s() to xasprintf(). Execution of attacker-controlled AWK input is required; the demonstrated consequence is a heap read from freed memory and process termination.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the BusyBox 1.36.1 AWK applet allows local users to crash the process by running a crafted AWK program. While evaluating two field operands, evaluate() can let the right operand reallocate Fields after retaining a pointer to the left field, then pass that dangling pointer through getvar_s() to xasprintf(). Execution of attacker-controlled AWK input is required; the demonstrated consequence is a heap read from freed memory and process termination.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42363
Published
Nov 27, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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

5.5UbuntuCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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