Heap overwrite via misaligned Unicode property reparse
Published Dec 18, 2023 · Updated Jan 22, 2026
Heap-based buffer overflow in Perl 5.30.0 through 5.38.0 allows local users to corrupt memory by compiling a crafted regular expression. S_parse_uniprop_string strips utf8:: from lookup_name but restarts an illegal-property reparse at the beginning of the longer source, copying one byte past the shortened heap allocation. Exploitation requires control over an expression compiled by a local Perl process, where the overwrite can corrupt process memory or crash that process.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in Perl 5.30.0 through 5.38.0 allows local users to corrupt memory by compiling a crafted regular expression. S_parse_uniprop_string strips utf8:: from lookup_name but restarts an illegal-property reparse at the beginning of the longer source, copying one byte past the shortened heap allocation. Exploitation requires control over an expression compiled by a local Perl process, where the overwrite can corrupt process memory or crash that process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-47038
- Published
- Dec 18, 2023
- Updated
- Jan 22, 2026
- Vendor
- Red Hat
- Product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Classifications
- CWE-122
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 18, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 22, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Affected versions are unavailable in this record. Check the vendor advisory for version and patch details.
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
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Your stack
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