# CVE-2023-23609: contiki-ng BLE-L2CAP contains Improper size validation of L2CAP frames

> An out-of-bounds write in the BLE-L2CAP module allows attackers to cause memory corruption, potentially leading to code execution or denial of service on IoT devices.

- **Severity:** High 8.2 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:N/I:H/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 25 Jan 2023
- **Updated:** 11 Mar 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-qr4q-6h3m-h3g7

## What is CVE-2023-23609?

CVE-2023-23609 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in contiki-ng, published on 25 Jan 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Contiki-NG is an open-source, cross-platform operating system for Next-Generation IoT devices. Versions prior to and including 4.8 are vulnerable to an out-of-bounds write that can occur in the BLE-L2CAP module. The Bluetooth Low Energy - Logical Link Control and Adaptation Layer Protocol (BLE-L2CAP) module handles fragmentation of packets up the configured MTU size. When fragments are reassembled, they are stored in a packet buffer of a configurable size, but there is no check to verify that the packet buffer is large enough to hold the reassembled packet. In Contiki-NG's default configuration, it is possible that an out-of-bounds write of up to 1152 bytes occurs. The vulnerability has been patched in the "develop" branch of Contiki-NG, and will be included in release 4.9. The problem can be fixed by applying the patch in Contiki-NG pull request #2254 prior to the release of version 4.9.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-23609?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Contiki-Ng Contiki-Ng.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-23609?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-23609 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-23609 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-23609 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in contiki-ng

- [CVE-2018-19417](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19417/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2023-30546](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-30546/): Contiki-NG has off-by-one error in Antelope DBMS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-24336](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-24336/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-14934](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14934/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2020-14935](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-14935/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-23609 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-23609 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in contiki-ng, published on 25 Jan 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-23609 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: contiki-ng. 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-2023-23609/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23609/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-23609
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-23609
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-23609

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-23609/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.