CVE-2023-44428
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
CVE-2023-44428- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-122
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-48768
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
EUVD-2023-48768- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-99f4-c4w3-4vm2
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This...
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
GHSA-99f4-c4w3-4vm2- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-122, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
CVE-2023-44428- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-122, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
CVE-2023-44428- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2023-44428
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-44428- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-44428
7.8
MuseScore CAP File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of MuseScore. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of CAP files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of the length of user-supplied data prior to copying it to a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-20769.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-44428- CVSS 3.0
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
musescore2Debian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.2+dfsg4-152.3.2+dfsg4-162.3.2+dfsg4-17 |
None known |
musescore2Debian:13 |
before 2.3.2+dfsg4-16 | 2.3.2+dfsg4-16 |
musescore3Debian:12 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg2-163.2.3+dfsg2-173.2.3+dfsg2-183.2.3+dfsg2-193.2.3+dfsg2-203.2.3+dfsg2-21 |
None known |
musescore3Debian:13 |
before 3.2.3+dfsg2-18 | 3.2.3+dfsg2-18 |
musescore3Debian:14 |
before 3.2.3+dfsg2-18 | 3.2.3+dfsg2-18 |
musescoreUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.0.2+dfsg-12.0.2+dfsg-22.0.2+dfsg-2build12.0.2+dfsg-2ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
musescoreUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.1.0+dfsg1-0.22.1.0+dfsg1-12.1.0+dfsg2-12.1.0+dfsg2-1build12.1.0+dfsg3-32.1.0+dfsg3-3build1 |
None known |
musescoreUbuntu:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg1-13.2.3+dfsg1-23.2.3+dfsg1-33.2.3+dfsg1-43.2.3+dfsg1-4build1 |
None known |
musescore2Ubuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.2+dfsg4-15 |
None known |
musescore3Ubuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg2-11 |
None known |
Show 8 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
musescore2Ubuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.2+dfsg4-152.3.2+dfsg4-15build22.3.2+dfsg4-15build3 |
None known |
musescore3Ubuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg2-163.2.3+dfsg2-16build33.2.3+dfsg2-16build43.2.3+dfsg2-16build5 |
None known |
musescore2Ubuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.2+dfsg4-15build32.3.2+dfsg4-16 |
None known |
musescore3Ubuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg2-173.2.3+dfsg2-183.2.3+dfsg2-19 |
None known |
musescore2Ubuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.2+dfsg4-17 |
None known |
musescore3Ubuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg2-21 |
None known |
musescore2Ubuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.3.2+dfsg4-162.3.2+dfsg4-17 |
None known |
musescore3Ubuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 3.2.3+dfsg2-193.2.3+dfsg2-21 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases, published | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-44428 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Musescore, published May 3, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.53%, the 45th percentile. Fixed in musescore2 2.3.2+dfsg4-16.