CVE-2023-42365

Local denial of service via crafted awk pattern

Published Nov 27, 2023 · Updated Nov 3, 2025

A use-after-free in BusyBox 1.36.1 allows local users to cause a service interrupt via a crafted awk pattern. The awk.c copyvar function mishandles memory associated with attacker-supplied pattern data and accesses it after release. Reaching the flaw requires running the awk applet with the crafted pattern; published scoring indicates availability impact without confidentiality or integrity impact.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A use-after-free in BusyBox 1.36.1 allows local users to cause a service interrupt via a crafted awk pattern. The awk.c copyvar function mishandles memory associated with attacker-supplied pattern data and accesses it after release. Reaching the flaw requires running the awk applet with the crafted pattern; published scoring indicates availability impact without confidentiality or integrity impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-42365
Published
Nov 27, 2023
Updated
Nov 3, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 27, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 3, 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?

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

5.5NVDCVSS: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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

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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