# CVE-2023-2617: OpenCV wechat_qrcode Module decoded_bit_stream_parser.cpp decodeByteSegment null pointer dereference

> A remote attacker can cause a denial of service via null pointer dereference in the OpenCV wechat_qrcode module's byte segment decoding.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 May 2023
- **Updated:** 27 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-2617, GHSA-3r96-chfr-mwjp, JLSEC-2026-567, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-2617

## What is CVE-2023-2617?

CVE-2023-2617 is a medium-severity vulnerability in OpenCV wechat_qrcode Module, published on 10 May 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in OpenCV wechat_qrcode Module up to 4.7.0. Affected by this vulnerability is the function DecodedBitStreamParser::decodeByteSegment of the file qrcode/decoder/decoded_bit_stream_parser.cpp. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue. The associated identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-228547.

Weakness: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2617?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Opencv Opencv.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2617?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2023-2617 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-2617 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in OpenCV wechat_qrcode Module

- [CVE-2019-5063](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5063/): Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-5064](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-5064/): Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2019-14491](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-14491/): Out-of-bounds Read in OpenCV (high 8.2)
- [CVE-2019-14492](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-14492/): Out-of-bounds Read and Out-of-bounds Write in OpenCV (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2018-7712](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-7712/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2617 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2617 is a medium-severity vulnerability in OpenCV wechat_qrcode Module, published on 10 May 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-2617 exists.

Affected product: OpenCV wechat_qrcode Module. 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-2023-2617/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2617/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2617
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2617
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2617

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2617/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.