CVE-2023-44398Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Code execution via capped Brotli output buffer

Published Nov 6, 2023 · Updated Feb 26, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Exiv2 0.28.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a crafted image's metadata is read. BmffImage::brotliUncompress caps its output-buffer allocation at 128 KiB but fails to stop when Brotli's total output exceeds that allocation. Exploitation requires a victim or application to process an attacker-supplied image; the heap overwrite can crash the process or execute code in its security context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.97%
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 Exiv2 0.28.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a crafted image's metadata is read. BmffImage::brotliUncompress caps its output-buffer allocation at 128 KiB but fails to stop when Brotli's total output exceeds that allocation. Exploitation requires a victim or application to process an attacker-supplied image; the heap overwrite can crash the process or execute code in its security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-44398
Published
Nov 6, 2023
Updated
Feb 26, 2025
Vendor
Exiv2
Product
Exiv2
Classifications
CWE-122, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 6, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 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== 0.28.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Exiv2 · Exiv2version== 0.28.0

Published CVSS scores

8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
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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