CVE-2023-46051Public exploit

CLI crash via NULL pointer dereference

Published Mar 27, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

NULL pointer dereference in TeX Live 944e257 pdfTeX allows local users to crash the CLI while processing crafted TeX input. The public record identifies tounicode.c as the locus but does not disclose which input value becomes NULL or which unchecked operation reaches the dereference. Exploitation requires a user to run pdfTeX on the triggering input and terminates only that CLI process; the issue is disputed as a usability problem.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in TeX Live 944e257 pdfTeX allows local users to crash the CLI while processing crafted TeX input. The public record identifies tounicode.c as the locus but does not disclose which input value becomes NULL or which unchecked operation reaches the dereference. Exploitation requires a user to run pdfTeX on the triggering input and terminates only that CLI process; the issue is disputed as a usability problem.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46051
Published
Mar 27, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 27, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

3.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference

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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