CVE-2023-50728Network attack vector

Unauthenticated process termination via uncaught verification error

Published Dec 15, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper exception handling in Octokit @octokit/webhooks allows remote attackers to terminate Node.js processes through webhook requests. The verifyAndReceive path passes a rejected verify promise upward instead of converting a signature-verification error into a failed match. Exposure requires an application to route unauthenticated webhook requests through createNodeMiddleware; an invalid signature then ends the hosting process.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.73%
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

Improper exception handling in Octokit @octokit/webhooks allows remote attackers to terminate Node.js processes through webhook requests. The verifyAndReceive path passes a rejected verify promise upward instead of converting a signature-verification error into a failed match. Exposure requires an application to route unauthenticated webhook requests through createNodeMiddleware; an invalid signature then ends the hosting process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-50728
Published
Dec 15, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Octokit
Product
@octokit/webhooks
Classifications
CWE-755, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 15, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 2024Record 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?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 10.9.0, < 10.9.2
  2. Affected versionversion=>= 11.1.0, < 11.1.2
  3. Affected versionversion=>= 12.0.0, < 12.0.4
  4. Affected versionversion=>= 9.26.0, < 9.26.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Octokit · @octokit/webhooksversion=>= 10.9.0, < 10.9.2; version=>= 11.1.0, < 11.1.2; version=>= 12.0.0, < 12.0.4; version=>= 9.26.0, < 9.26.3

Published CVSS scores

8.2GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:H
7.5NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-755Improper Handling of Exceptional Conditions
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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