CVE-2023-46052Public exploit

Process crash via unchecked init_mode copy

Published Mar 27, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Heap overwrite in SANE Backends 1.2.1 allows local users to crash a process by supplying a long init_mode in a test-backend config. In backend/test.c, init_options() sizes the option buffer from the longest predefined mode but copies the unrestricted init_mode value with strcpy(). Exploitation requires execution of the test backend with an attacker-controlled configuration file, a scenario the upstream project disputes as outside expected use.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.36%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap overwrite in SANE Backends 1.2.1 allows local users to crash a process by supplying a long init_mode in a test-backend config. In backend/test.c, init_options() sizes the option buffer from the longest predefined mode but copies the unrestricted init_mode value with strcpy(). Exploitation requires execution of the test backend with an attacker-controlled configuration file, a scenario the upstream project disputes as outside expected use.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-46052
Published
Mar 27, 2024
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1204.002
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

3.3SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
7.1NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002Malicious 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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