CVE-2023-49993Public exploit

Process crash via unbounded punctuation-list copy

Published Dec 12, 2023 · Updated Nov 4, 2025

Buffer overflow in ReadClause in eSpeak NG 1.52-dev allows local users to crash the process by processing a crafted text file. The function copies an embedded punctuation list into the fixed-size option_punctlist array without bounding its index, allowing excess input to overwrite adjacent global memory. Exploitation requires a user or consuming application to process attacker-controlled text, and the public proof of concept demonstrates a process abort.

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

What happened

Buffer overflow in ReadClause in eSpeak NG 1.52-dev allows local users to crash the process by processing a crafted text file. The function copies an embedded punctuation list into the fixed-size option_punctlist array without bounding its index, allowing excess input to overwrite adjacent global memory. Exploitation requires a user or consuming application to process attacker-controlled text, and the public proof of concept demonstrates a process abort.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-49993
Published
Dec 12, 2023
Updated
Nov 4, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1203
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

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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

5.3NIST NVDCVSS: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.

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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-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
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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