CVE-2023-45679Public exploit

Code execution via freeing uninitialized comment pointers

Published Oct 20, 2023 · Updated Sep 12, 2024

Double free in stb_vorbis in Sean Barrett stb 1.22 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute code via a crafted file. When start_decoder returns after a comment allocation fails, remaining f->comment_list entries stay uninitialized and vorbis_deinit passes them to setup_free. The host application must decode attacker-controlled Ogg Vorbis data and encounter the allocation-failure path; successful exploitation runs code in that application's process.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Double free in stb_vorbis in Sean Barrett stb 1.22 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute code via a crafted file. When start_decoder returns after a comment allocation fails, remaining f->comment_list entries stay uninitialized and vorbis_deinit passes them to setup_free. The host application must decode attacker-controlled Ogg Vorbis data and encounter the allocation-failure path; successful exploitation runs code in that application's process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-45679
Published
Oct 20, 2023
Updated
Sep 12, 2024
Vendor
Sean Barrett
Product
stb
Classifications
CWE-415, T1203
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 20, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 12, 2024Record 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 <=1.22
  2. Affected versionversion=<= 1.22

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Sean Barrett · stbversion=0 <=1.22; version=<= 1.22

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.3GitHub, Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-415Double Free
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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