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CVE-2023-40889

Heap-based buffer overflow in ZBar

9.8 CriticalFix available

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

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
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

1.75%Up 1.7 points since Aug 30, 2023
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 9.8

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
CVE-2023-40889
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
CVE-2023-40889
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-2327 No score

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
EUVD-2023-2327
Updated
2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-mhp6-jvpx-2p4m 9.8

Heap-based buffer overflow in ZBar

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
GHSA-mhp6-jvpx-2p4m
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-122, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2023-40889 9.8

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
ALPINE-CVE-2023-40889
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-03
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2023-40889 9.8

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40889
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 12 moreShow less
OSVGHSA-mhp6-jvpx-2p4m 9.8

Heap-based buffer overflow in ZBar

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
GHSA-mhp6-jvpx-2p4m
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness
CWE-122, CWE-787
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2024-1155 9.8

zbar security update

ZBar is an open source software suite for reading bar codes from various sources, such as video streams, image files and raw intensity sensors. It supports many popular symbologies (types of bar codes) including EAN-13/UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5 and QR Code.

Security Fix(es):

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40889)

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40890)

Record
OESA-2024-1155
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2024-1156 9.8

zbar security update

ZBar is an open source software suite for reading bar codes from various sources, such as video streams, image files and raw intensity sensors. It supports many popular symbologies (types of bar codes) including EAN-13/UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5 and QR Code.

Security Fix(es):

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40889)

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40890)

Record
OESA-2024-1156
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2024-1157 9.8

zbar security update

ZBar is an open source software suite for reading bar codes from various sources, such as video streams, image files and raw intensity sensors. It supports many popular symbologies (types of bar codes) including EAN-13/UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5 and QR Code.

Security Fix(es):

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40889)

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40890)

Record
OESA-2024-1157
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVOESA-2024-1158 9.8

zbar security update

ZBar is an open source software suite for reading bar codes from various sources, such as video streams, image files and raw intensity sensors. It supports many popular symbologies (types of bar codes) including EAN-13/UPC-A, UPC-E, EAN-8, Code 128, Code 39, Interleaved 2 of 5 and QR Code.

Security Fix(es):

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40889)

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.(CVE-2023-40890)

Record
OESA-2024-1158
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVPYSEC-2026-576 9.8

Heap-based buffer overflow in ZBar

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
PYSEC-2026-576
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-40889 9.8

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40889
CVSS 3.1
9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV No score

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.

Record
CVE-2023-40889
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVMGASA-2024-0374 No score

Updated zbar packages fix security vulnerabilities

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the qr_reader_match_centers function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner. CVE-2023-40889 A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner. CVE-2023-40890

Record
MGASA-2024-0374
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:13525-1 No score

libzbar-devel-0.23.90-5.1 on GA media

These are all security issues fixed in the libzbar-devel-0.23.90-5.1 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.

Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:13525-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2023:4948-1 No score

Security update for zbar

This update for zbar fixes the following issues:

  • CVE-2023-40889: Fixed heap-based buffer overflow in the qr_reader_match_centers function (bsc#1214770).
  • CVE-2023-40890: Fixed stack-based buffer overflow in the lookup_sequence function (bsc#1214771).
Record
SUSE-SU-2023:4948-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-7118-1 No score

zbar vulnerabilities

It was discovered that ZBar did not properly handle certain QR codes. If a user or automated system using ZBar were tricked into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker could possibly use this to obtain sensitive information. (CVE-2023-40889)

It was discovered that ZBar did not properly handle certain QR codes. If a user or automated system using ZBar were tricked into opening a specially crafted file, an attacker could possibly use this to obtain sensitive information. This issue only affected Ubuntu 20.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. (CVE-2023-40890)

Record
USN-7118-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
zbar
PyPI
through 0.23.90 None known
zbar
Alpine:v3.19
before 0.23.93-r0
0.23.93-r0
zbar
Alpine:v3.20
before 0.23.93-r0
0.23.93-r0
zbar
Alpine:v3.21
before 0.23.93-r0
0.23.93-r0
zbar
Alpine:v3.22
before 0.23.93-r0
0.23.93-r0
zbar
Alpine:v3.23
before 0.23.93-r0
0.23.93-r0
zbar
Alpine:v3.24
before 0.23.93-r0
0.23.93-r0
zbar
Debian:12
before 0.23.92-7+deb12u1, plus listed versions
0.23.92-7
0.23.92-7+deb12u1
zbar
Debian:13
before 0.23.92-9
0.23.92-9
zbar
Debian:14
before 0.23.92-9
0.23.92-9
Show 22 moreShow less
Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
zbar
Debian:10
before 0.22-1+deb10u1, plus listed versions
0.22-1
0.22-1+deb10u1
zbar
Debian:11
before 0.23.90-1+deb11u1, plus listed versions
0.23.90-1
0.23.90-1+deb11u1
zbar
PyPI
through 0.23.90, plus listed versions
0.10
None known
zbar
Mageia:9
before 0.23.93-1.mga9
0.23.93-1.mga9
zbar
openEuler:22.03-LTS-SP2
before 0.23.93-1.oe2203sp2
0.23.93-1.oe2203sp2
zbar
openEuler:22.03-LTS-SP3
before 0.23.93-1.oe2203sp3
0.23.93-1.oe2203sp3
zbar
openEuler:22.03-LTS
before 0.22-5.oe2203
0.22-5.oe2203
zbar
openEuler:22.03-LTS-SP1
before 0.23.93-1.oe2203sp1
0.23.93-1.oe2203sp1
zbar
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 SP5
before 0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
zbar
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 SP5
before 0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
zbar
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4
before 0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
zbar
openSUSE:Leap 15.4
before 0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
zbar
openSUSE:Leap 15.5
before 0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
0.23.1-150300.3.3.1
zbar
Ubuntu:14.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
0.10+doc-90.10+doc-9build1
None known
zbar
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
before 0.10+doc-10ubuntu1+esm1, plus listed versions
0.10+doc-10build10.10+doc-10build20.10+doc-10ubuntu1
0.10+doc-10ubuntu1+esm1
zbar
Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS
before 0.10+doc-10.1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions
0.10+doc-10.1build2
0.10+doc-10.1ubuntu0.1~esm1
zbar
Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS
before 0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions
0.23-1.10.23-1.20.23-1.3
0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1
zbar
Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS
before 0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions
0.23.90-10.23.92-40.23.92-4build2
0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1
zbar
Ubuntu:25.10
All versions, plus listed versions
0.23.93-70.23.93-8
None known
zbar
Ubuntu:26.10
All versions, plus listed versions
0.23.93-9ubuntu10.23.93-9ubuntu2
None known
zbar
Ubuntu:26.04:LTS
All versions, plus listed versions
0.23.93-80.23.93-9ubuntu1
None known
zbar
openSUSE:Tumbleweed
before 0.23.90-5.1
0.23.90-5.1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected, aliases, referencesOSV
first indexedCVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2023-40889 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.8) in Zbar Project Zbar, published August 29, 2023. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.75%, the 77th percentile. Fixed in zbar 0.23.93-r0.

References

Show 23 moreShow less
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