CVE-2023-45233Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Boot hang via PadN offset truncation

Published Jan 16, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Infinite loop in TianoCore EDK II NetworkPkg through 202311 allows remote attackers to hang IPv6 PXE boot via a crafted PadN option. Ip6IsOptionValid adds the untrusted 0xFE PadN length and two to a UINT8 offset, truncating 0x100 so the offset never advances. Exploitation requires IPv6 PXE boot to be enabled and network-reachable; the affected computer never finishes booting.

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 NetworkPkg through 202311 allows remote attackers to hang IPv6 PXE boot via a crafted PadN option. Ip6IsOptionValid adds the untrusted 0xFE PadN length and two to a UINT8 offset, truncating 0x100 so the offset never advances. Exploitation requires IPv6 PXE boot to be enabled and network-reachable; the affected computer never finishes booting.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45233
Published
Jan 16, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
TianoCore
Product
EDK II
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499
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

7.5NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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