# CVE-2013-3969: Null dereference in n/a

> Authenticated remote attackers can crash the MongoDB server or potentially execute arbitrary code via an invalid RefDB object in the find prototype.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 1 Oct 2013
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** CVE-2013-4142, GHSA-27xw-phm9-jmx3

## What is CVE-2013-3969?

CVE-2013-3969 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Mongodb Mongodb, published on 1 Oct 2013. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The find prototype in scripting/engine_v8.h in MongoDB 2.4.0 through 2.4.4 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (uninitialized pointer dereference and server crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via an invalid RefDB object.

Weakness: CWE-399

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-3969?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mongodb Mongodb.

## How do I fix CVE-2013-3969?

No fix has been published for CVE-2013-3969 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2013-3969 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-3969 exists.

Public exploit code:

- MongoDB - 'conn' Mongo Object Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Mongodb Mongodb

- [CVE-2025-14847](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-14847/): MongoDB and MongoDB Server Improper Handling of Length Parameter Inconsistency (high 8.7, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-82067](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-82067/): Auth bypass in MongoDB Server (critical 9.2)
- [CVE-2026-13072](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-13072/): MongoDB Improper Input Validation in Compute Mode External Data Processing Leading to Memory Corruption (critical 9.2)
- [CVE-2017-15535](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15535/): Denial of service in n/a (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2026-18691](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-18691/): Improper Authentication in MongoDB Intra-Cluster Connections Allows Credential Exposure (critical 9.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2013-3969 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2013-3969 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Mongodb Mongodb, published on 1 Oct 2013. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2013-3969 exists.

Affected product: Mongodb Mongodb. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3969/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3969/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-3969
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-3969
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-3969

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-3969/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.