CVE-2023-51885Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Remote code execution via unchecked LaTeX copies

Published Jan 24, 2024 · Updated May 30, 2025

Buffer overflow in Mathtex 1.05 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through an oversized LaTeX string. The main function copies input longer than 32,768 bytes into the fixed global exprbuffer and stack hashexpr buffers without length checks. CGI exploitation requires an HTTP server that accepts URLs longer than 32,768 bytes; CLI input reaches the same faulty copies.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability1.29%
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 Mathtex 1.05 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through an oversized LaTeX string. The main function copies input longer than 32,768 bytes into the fixed global exprbuffer and stack hashexpr buffers without length checks. CGI exploitation requires an HTTP server that accepts URLs longer than 32,768 bytes; CLI input reaches the same faulty copies.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51885
Published
Jan 24, 2024
Updated
May 30, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 30, 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 vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

9.8CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

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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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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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