CVE-2023-43788Public exploit

Memory disclosure via unterminated comment scan

Published Oct 10, 2023 · Updated Nov 6, 2025

Out-of-bounds read in X.Org libXpm before 3.5.17 allows attackers to disclose process memory through a crafted XPM image. ParseComment continues searching for a closing comment marker after reaching the end of an in-memory XPM buffer. Exploitation requires an application to open attacker-controlled XPM data and exposes only memory adjacent to the parsed buffer.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in X.Org libXpm before 3.5.17 allows attackers to disclose process memory through a crafted XPM image. ParseComment continues searching for a closing comment marker after reaching the end of an in-memory XPM buffer. Exploitation requires an application to open attacker-controlled XPM data and exposes only memory adjacent to the parsed buffer.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-43788
Published
Oct 10, 2023
Updated
Nov 6, 2025
Vendor
X.Org
Product
libXpm
Classifications
CWE-125, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 10, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 6, 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=0 <3.5.17

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

X.Org · libXpmversion=0 <3.5.17
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8Affected versions are unavailable in this record.
Red Hat · Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9Affected versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

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 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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1204.002Malicious 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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