Code execution via overflowing GGUF key allocation
Published Feb 26, 2024 · Updated Nov 4, 2025
Heap-based buffer overflow in llama.cpp Commit 18c2e17 allows attackers to execute code by supplying a crafted GGUF model file. The gguf_init_from_file parser multiplies the untrusted header.n_kv count by 48 without checking for integer wraparound, allocates an undersized kv array, and then writes past its heap boundary while reading keys. Execution requires a user or application to load the attacker-supplied model; successful exploitation runs code in the loading process.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in llama.cpp Commit 18c2e17 allows attackers to execute code by supplying a crafted GGUF model file. The gguf_init_from_file parser multiplies the untrusted header.n_kv count by 48 without checking for integer wraparound, allocates an undersized kv array, and then writes past its heap boundary while reading keys. Execution requires a user or application to load the attacker-supplied model; successful exploitation runs code in the loading process.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-23605
- Published
- Feb 26, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 4, 2025
- Vendor
- Georgi Gerganov
- Product
- llama.cpp
- Classifications
- CWE-787, CWE-190, T1203
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 26, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=0 <*
- Affected versionversion=Commit 18c2e17
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Technologies
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Your stack
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