🛡️ CVE-2023-40889 on Debian — zbar

⚪ Unknown ✅ No Known Exploit OSV
N/A
CVSS Score
0 Low4 Medium7 High9 Critical10

Description

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.

Distribution advisory

This page covers CVE-2023-40889 as tracked by Debian, for the package zbar. The fix is available in version 0.23.92-9; earlier versions remain affected.

How this vulnerability can be exploited

This issue can be reached over the network, attack complexity is low, an attacker needs no privileges on the target. No user interaction is required. The scope is unchanged, so the impact stays within the vulnerable component. Rated impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high.

Weakness class

DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40889 is classified as CWE-122: Heap-based Buffer Overflow. A write past the end of a heap allocation corrupts allocator metadata or neighbouring objects.

Affected software

DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40889 is recorded against 1 package.

  • zbar (fixed in 0.23.92-9)

Timeline and source

Published on 29 August 2023 and last revised on 7 August 2026. No public exploit is currently recorded for this entry. Record sourced from OSV.

References

security-tracker.debian.org (Advisory)

CVE-2023-40889 on other distributions

Each distribution ships its own build and its own fixed version. Pick the one you run:

Details

Severity Unknown
CVSS Score N/A
CVSS Vector CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE N/A
Public Exploit ✅ No
Source OSV
Published 2023-08-29
Updated 2026-08-12
Modified 2026-08-07
Fix URL N/A

Affected Packages

Software From version Fixed in
zbar — 0.23.92-9

Similar Threats

Exploit Protection

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DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40889 carries CVSS 9.5 Critical rating. BotEraser checks your installation against this and other known CVE records, and blocks IPs associated with exploit activity.

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