How this vulnerability can be exploited
This issue can be reached with local access to the system, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. A user must be tricked into taking some action. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality low, integrity low, availability low.
CVSS metrics in full
The score comes from this vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
- Attack vector: Local — a local account, shell or session on the host is needed.
- Attack complexity: Low — the attack works reliably, with no preparation.
- Privileges required: None — an unauthenticated stranger can try it.
- User interaction: Required — someone has to click, open or visit something.
- Scope: Unchanged — the damage stays inside the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
- Integrity impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
- Availability impact: Low — limited, and the attacker does not choose what is affected.
Weakness class
CVE-2023-5371 is classified as CWE-789: Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value. The product allocates memory based on an untrusted, large size value, but it does not ensure that the size is within expected limits, allowing arbitrary amounts of memory to be allocated.
Affected software
CVE-2023-5371 is recorded against 1 package.
- wireshark (from 4.0.0 up to 4.0.9)
Timeline and source
Published on 4 October 2023 and last revised on 17 June 2026. A public exploit is known to exist, which raises the urgency of patching considerably. Record sourced from NVD.
References
gitlab.com
www.wireshark.org
gitlab.com
lists.fedoraproject.org
lists.fedoraproject.org
security.gentoo.org
www.wireshark.org
Other advisories for this package
wireshark has other advisories on record. If you are patching this one, these are worth checking on the same host:
Same weakness in other software
These advisories are the same class of weakness (CWE-789: Memory Allocation with Excessive Size Value) in other software:
