CVE-2023-49990Public exploit

Process crash via phoneme-table out-of-bounds read

Published Dec 12, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Buffer overflow in eSpeak NG 1.52-dev allows local users to crash the synthesizer by opening a crafted text file. The SetUpPhonemeTable function reads four bytes beyond the global phoneme_tab_list array while processing the file's text. Exploitation requires a user to make the local command-line tool process attacker-controlled text; the published proof of concept triggers an AddressSanitizer abort.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.40%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in eSpeak NG 1.52-dev allows local users to crash the synthesizer by opening a crafted text file. The SetUpPhonemeTable function reads four bytes beyond the global phoneme_tab_list array while processing the file's text. Exploitation requires a user to make the local command-line tool process attacker-controlled text; the published proof of concept triggers an AddressSanitizer abort.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-49990
Published
Dec 12, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 12, 2023CVE 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

5.3NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
5.3CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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 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-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo