Out of bounds heap buffer write in stb_vorbis
stb_vorbis is a single file MIT licensed library for processing ogg vorbis files. A crafted file may trigger memory write past an allocated heap buffer in `start_decoder`. The root cause is a potential integer overflow in `sizeof(char*) * (f->comment_list_length)` which may make `setup_malloc` allocate less memory than required. Since there is another integer overflow an attacker may overflow it too to force `setup_malloc` to return 0 and make the exploit more reliable. This issue may lead to code execution.
- Published
- Oct 20, 2023
- Updated
- Jun 17, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.5% · 42th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-787
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Report tools
Action score
31
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 31 / 40 · 7.8 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.5%
CISA SSVC decision
- Exploitation
- proof of concept
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- total
Vulnrichment: CISA's decision-tree inputs.
CNA vs NVD score
- NVD
- 7.8
- CNA · GitHub_M
- 7.3
- 0.5 point gap
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| nothings | stb vorbis.c | cpe:2.3:a:nothings:stb_vorbis.c |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- nothings stb vorbis.c1.22
Versions reported by the vendor
Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (GitHub_M). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.
nothings stb
- <= 1.22affected
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libstb | all versions | — |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | SDL2_sound | before 2.0.4-1.1 | 2.0.4-1.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | SDL3_sound | before 3.2.0-1.1 | 3.2.0-1.1 |
| SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP6 | SDL2_sound | before 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 | 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 |
| SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP6 | SDL2_sound | before 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 | 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 |
Same product
nothings: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2023-47212A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the comment functionality of stb _vorbis.c v1.22.39Monitor
- CVE-2023-45679Attempt to free an uninitialized memory pointer in vorbis_deinit in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-45678Off-by-one heap buffer write in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-45677Heap buffer out of bounds write in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-45676Multi-byte write heap buffer overflow in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-456750 byte write heap buffer overflow in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| opensuse:SDL2_sound | 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 · openSUSE:Leap 15.6 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:SDL3_sound | 3.2.0-1.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:SDL2_sound | 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 · SUSE:Package Hub 15 SP6 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
- CVE-2023-456750 days apart0 byte write heap buffer overflow in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-456760 days apartMulti-byte write heap buffer overflow in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-456770 days apartHeap buffer out of bounds write in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
- CVE-2023-456780 days apartOff-by-one heap buffer write in start_decoder in stb_vorbis31Monitor
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- Someone with local access to the system can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- A user must open a link or visit a page.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- high · data can be read
- Integrity
- high · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Local
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds WriteCVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- github.com/nothings/stb/blob/5736b15f7ea0ffb08dd38af21067c314d6a3aae9/stb_vorbis.c#L3660-L3677
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2MHQQXX27ACLLYUQHWSL3DVCOGUK5ZA4/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/2WRORYQ2Z2XXHPX36JHBUSDVY6IOMW2N/
- lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/LBIPXOBWUHPAH4QHMVP2AWWAPDDZDQ66/
- securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2023-145_GHSL-2023-151_stb_image_h/
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.