CVE-2023-52081Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Theme lookup manipulation via late Unicode normalization

Published Dec 28, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Unicode normalization bypass in ffcss before 0.2.0 allows attackers to alter loose theme-name matching via crafted command arguments. The lookupPreprocess function strips dashes, underscores, spaces, and dots before NFKD normalization, allowing equivalent Unicode characters to regenerate filtered ASCII separators. Reachability requires control of ffcss command arguments, and the consequence is limited to case-insensitive theme lookup rather than code execution or data disclosure.

CVSS severity5.3
Medium
EPSS probability0.52%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Unicode normalization bypass in ffcss before 0.2.0 allows attackers to alter loose theme-name matching via crafted command arguments. The lookupPreprocess function strips dashes, underscores, spaces, and dots before NFKD normalization, allowing equivalent Unicode characters to regenerate filtered ASCII separators. Reachability requires control of ffcss command arguments, and the consequence is limited to case-insensitive theme lookup rather than code execution or data disclosure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-52081
Published
Dec 28, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
gwennlbh
Product
ffcss
Classifications
CWE-74, CWE-176
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 28, 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

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.2.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

gwennlbh · ffcssversion=< 0.2.0

Published CVSS scores

5.3GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-74Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component ('Injection')
CWE-176Improper Handling of Unicode Encoding

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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