CVE-2023-51888Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Service crash via nomath global buffer overflow

Published Jan 24, 2024 · Updated Sep 5, 2024

Global buffer overflow in Mathtex 1.05 and earlier allows remote attackers to crash its CGI service through a crafted URL query string. The nomath() path passes caret-heavy input through strreplace() and strchange(), writing beyond the 4,096-byte global sbuff array. No authentication or user interaction is required when mathtex.cgi is web-accessible; the demonstrated consequence is process termination.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.83%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Global buffer overflow in Mathtex 1.05 and earlier allows remote attackers to crash its CGI service through a crafted URL query string. The nomath() path passes caret-heavy input through strreplace() and strchange(), writing beyond the 4,096-byte global sbuff array. No authentication or user interaction is required when mathtex.cgi is web-accessible; the demonstrated consequence is process termination.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-51888
Published
Jan 24, 2024
Updated
Sep 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-120, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 5, 2024Record 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

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS: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.

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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')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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