CVE-2023-45681
Out of bounds heap buffer write in stb_vorbis
CVE-2023-45681 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.3) in Nothings Stb, published October 20, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.52%, the 44th percentile. Fixed in stb 0-0.git20230129.4.1.mga9.
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.3
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-45681- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-49971
7.3
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.
- Record
EUVD-2023-49971- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-03
NVD
7.3
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-45681- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-787, CWE-190
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.3
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.
- Record
CVE-2023-45681- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2023-45681
7.8
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.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-45681- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2024-1583
7.8
stb security update
Single-file public domain libraries for C/C++.
Security Fix(es):
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.(CVE-2023-45681)
A heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the comment functionality of stb _vorbis.c v1.22. A specially crafted .ogg file can lead to an out-of-bounds write. An attacker can provide a malicious file to trigger this vulnerability.(CVE-2023-47212)
- Record
OESA-2024-1583- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 6 moreShow less
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-45681
7.3
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.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-45681- CVSS 3.1
- 7.3 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2024-0186 No score
Updated stb packages fix security vulnerabilities
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.
- Record
MGASA-2024-0186- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2026-0191 No score
Updated libxmp packages fix security vulnerabilities
CVE-2023-45679: Attempt to free an uninitialized memory pointer in vorbis_deinit() CVE-2023-45680: Null pointer dereference in vorbis_deinit() CVE-2023-45681: Out of bounds heap buffer write CVE-2023-45676: Multi-byte write heap buffer overflow in start_decoder() CVE-2023-45677: Heap buffer out of bounds write in start_decoder() CVE-2023-45682: Wild address read in vorbis_decode_packet_rest() CVE-2025-47256 stack-based buffer overflow in depack_pha in loaders/prowizard/pha.c via a malformed Pha format tracker module in a .mod file.
- Record
MGASA-2026-0191- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:0037-1 No score
Security update for SDL2_sound
This update for SDL2_sound fixes the following issues:
-
Update to release 2.0.4:
- Update bundled stb_vorbis to address CVE-2023-45676, CVE-2023-45677, CVE-2023-45679, CVE-2023-45680, CVE-2023-45681, CVE-2023-45682.
-
Update to release 2.0.2
- No further changes from the last snapshot 2.0.1+g60
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:0037-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2025:14642-1 No score
SDL2_sound-devel-2.0.4-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the SDL2_sound-devel-2.0.4-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2025:14642-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2026:10978-1 No score
SDL3_sound-devel-3.2.0-1.1 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the SDL3_sound-devel-3.2.0-1.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2026:10978-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libstbDebian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20220908.8b5f1f3+ds-10.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-10.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-1.10.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-1.1~exp10.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-1.20.0~git20240715.f7f20f39fe4f+ds-10.0~git20241109.5c20573+ds-10.0~git20250907.fede005+ds-1 |
None known |
libstbDebian:13 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20241109.5c20573+ds-10.0~git20250907.fede005+ds-1 |
None known |
libstbDebian:14 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20241109.5c20573+ds-10.0~git20250907.fede005+ds-1 |
None known |
stbMageia:9 |
before 0-0.git20230129.4.1.mga9 | 0-0.git20230129.4.1.mga9 |
libxmpMageia:9 |
before 4.5.0-2.1.mga9 | 4.5.0-2.1.mga9 |
stbopenEuler:22.03-LTS-SP3 |
before 0.20220908git8b5f1f3-0.16.oe2203sp3 | 0.20220908git8b5f1f3-0.16.oe2203sp3 |
libstbUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20190817.1.052dce1-1 |
None known |
libstbUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20200713.b42009b+ds-10.0~git20210910.af1a5bc+ds-1 |
None known |
libstbUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-10.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-1.10.0~git20230129.5736b15+ds-1.2 |
None known |
libstbUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20240715.f7f20f39fe4f+ds-10.0~git20241109.5c20573+ds-1 |
None known |
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| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libstbUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20250907.fede005+ds-1 |
None known |
libstbUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 0.0~git20241109.5c20573+ds-10.0~git20250907.fede005+ds-1 |
None known |
SDL2_soundSUSE:Package Hub 15 SP6 |
before 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 | 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 |
SDL2_soundopenSUSE:Leap 15.6 |
before 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 | 2.0.4-bp156.2.3.1 |
SDL2_soundopenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 2.0.4-1.1 | 2.0.4-1.1 |
SDL3_soundopenSUSE:Tumbleweed |
before 3.2.0-1.1 | 3.2.0-1.1 |
History
| When | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-11-03 | aliases, published | EUVD |
| 2026-11-02 | created | CVE List, NVD, OSV |
References
securitylab.github.com/advisories/GHSL-2023-145_GHSL-2023-151_stb_image_h
github.com/nothings/stb/blob/5736b15f7ea0ffb08dd38af21067c314d6a3aae9/stb_vorbis.c
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/LBIPXOBWUHPAH4QHMVP2AWWAPDDZDQ66
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/2WRORYQ2Z2XXHPX36JHBUSDVY6IOMW2N
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/2MHQQXX27ACLLYUQHWSL3DVCOGUK5ZA4
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2023/45xxx/CVE-2023-45681.json
Show 22 moreShow less
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45681
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-45681
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2024-0186.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=33205
advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2026-0191.html
bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=33915
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/CVZWMTH36ES7RCJEMRANBDTL76QBE75Z
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/FKMOFYKVMD2LPU7O33SEH2RGSY2ZE73K
openeuler.org/en/security/safety-bulletin/detail.html?id=openEuler-SA-2024-1583
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-47212
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-45681
github.com/nothings/stb/pull/1559
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-45681
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/PYKIGUIZT6TXJBJESQGK4RWVLRA2YLO4
bugzilla.suse.com/1216478
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-45676
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-45677
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-45679
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-45680
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-45681
suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-45682
lists.opensuse.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/SWCLVWR36I4VV2JTSHFURYZBPAC6ZPCZ