CVE-2023-45232Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Preboot hang via stalled IPv6 option parsing

Published Jan 16, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Infinite loop in TianoCore EDK II edk2-stable202308 allows remote attackers to halt firmware network processing via crafted IPv6 traffic. In Ip6IsOptionValid, the unknown-option path adds only the untrusted option length to Offset and omits the two-byte header, so a zero length prevents loop progress. PXE boot must be enabled and the system must process attacker-controlled IPv6 traffic; the result is a preboot hang rather than data access.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability2.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite loop in TianoCore EDK II edk2-stable202308 allows remote attackers to halt firmware network processing via crafted IPv6 traffic. In Ip6IsOptionValid, the unknown-option path adds only the untrusted option length to Offset and omits the two-byte header, so a zero length prevents loop progress. PXE boot must be enabled and the system must process attacker-controlled IPv6 traffic; the result is a preboot hang rather than data access.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45232
Published
Jan 16, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
TianoCore
Product
EDK II
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 4, 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=edk2-stable202308

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

TianoCore · EDK IIversion=edk2-stable202308

Published CVSS scores

7.5TianoCore.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/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 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-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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