# CVE-2023-1801: Memory corruption in tcpdump

> An out-of-bounds write in tcpdump's SMB decoder allows attackers to execute code or cause denial of service via crafted packets.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Apr 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-1801, GHSA-44xc-f95p-5vmh, MGASA-2023-0154, OESA-2023-1243, OESA-2023-1244, openSUSE-SU-2024:12850-1

## What is CVE-2023-1801?

CVE-2023-1801 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Tcpdump Tcpdump, published on 7 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The SMB protocol decoder in tcpdump version 4.99.3 can perform an out-of-bounds write when decoding a crafted network packet.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-1801?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tcpdump` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 4.99.4-1.1 |

Products: Tcpdump Tcpdump.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-1801?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-1801 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-1801 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Tcpdump Tcpdump

- [CVE-2018-10103](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10103/): tcpdump before 4.9.3 mishandles the printing of SMB data (issue 1 of 2). (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2018-10105](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10105/): Denial of service in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-12893](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12893/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-12894](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12894/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-12895](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-12895/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-1801 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-1801 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Tcpdump Tcpdump, published on 7 Apr 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-1801 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Tcpdump Tcpdump. 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-2023-1801/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1801/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-1801
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-1801
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-1801

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-1801/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.