IRONSMITHINTEL
HIGHCVSS8.8
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2023-5217|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

Google Chromium libvpx Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

Google Chromium libvpx contains a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in vp8 encoding that allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. This vulnerability could impact web browsers using libvpx, including but not limited to Google Chrome.

Published Sep 28, 2023 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2023-10-23 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Google Chromium libvpx. Heap buffer overflow in vp8 encoding in libvpx in Google Chrome prior to 117.0.5938.132 and libvpx 1.13.1 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High) Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and user interaction required.

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Phishing link

🖼

Malicious file

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Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

IT Security
Running libvpx: v < 1.13.1; edge: 116.0.1938.98, 117.0.2045.47; edge chromium: 116.0.5845.229, 117.0.5938.132; firefox: v < 115.3.1, v < 118.0.1, v < 118.1; thunderbird: v < 115.3.1; fedora: 37, 38, 39; debian linux: 10.0, 11.0, 12.0; ipados: 17.0 ≤ v < 17.0.3, 16.7; iphone os: 17.0 ≤ v < 17.0.3, 16.7; chrome: v < 117.0.5938.132; enterprise linux: 9.0
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://crbug.com/1486441

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_27.html
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5217
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2023-5217
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