W3m: out of bounds read in growbuf_to_str() at w3m/indep.c
Priority LOW 25CWE-125Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-125 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
An out-of-bounds read flaw was found in w3m, in the growbuf_to_Str function in indep.c. This issue may allow an attacker to cause a denial of service through a crafted HTML file.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00358 29th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | w3m | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Red Hat | Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | — | — | Not affected | CNA |
| Fedora | Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
| Fedora | Fedora | — | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- w3m Vendor— Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 VendorRed Hat Affected — Fixed in — Not affected CNA
- Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux VendorFedora Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
- Fedora VendorFedora Affected — Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:tats:w3m:0.5.3\+git20230121:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.5.3+git20230121 | Vulnerable | Tats |
| cpe:2.3:a:fedoraproject:extra_packages_for_enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 38 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:tats:w3m:0.5.3\+git20230121:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.5.3+git20230121 Vulnerable ·Tats
- cpe:2.3:a:fedoraproject:extra_packages_for_enterprise_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:38:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 38 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-38253
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rrg6-f895-jq87
References
Other 3
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/AULOBQJLXE2KCT5UVQMKGEFL4GFIAOED/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/TODROGVCWZ435HQIZE6ARQC5LPQLIA5C/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/[email protected]/message/MKFZQUK7FPWWJQYICDZZ4YWIPUPQ2D3R/
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- TI-2025-23530 Sudo before 1.9.17p1 allows local users to obtain root access because /etc/nsswitch.conf… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
- TI-2021-17490 mod_proxy SSRF KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.0
Sources
- CVE-2023-38253 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-38253 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rrg6-f895-jq87 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-38253 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences