# CVE-2023-2789: GNU cflow parser.c parse_variable_declaration denial of service

> An attacker can cause a denial of service in GNU cflow by exploiting a flaw in the variable declaration parser, affecting developers using the tool.

- **Severity:** Low 3.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 18 May 2023
- **Updated:** 2 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-2789, GHSA-h6vj-vg8j-jfqp, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-2789

## What is CVE-2023-2789?

CVE-2023-2789 is a low-severity denial of service vulnerability in GNU cflow, published on 18 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability was found in GNU cflow 1.7. It has been rated as problematic. This issue affects the function func_body/parse_variable_declaration of the file parser.c. The manipulation leads to denial of service. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The identifier VDB-229373 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.

Weakness: CWE-404 (Improper Resource Shutdown or Release)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-2789?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gnu Cflow.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-2789?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-2789 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-2789 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-2789 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in GNU cflow

- [CVE-2019-16165](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16165/): Use after free in n/a (medium 6.5)
- [CVE-2019-16166](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16166/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-2789 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-2789 is a low-severity denial of service vulnerability in GNU cflow, published on 18 May 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-2023-2789 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: GNU cflow. 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-2023-2789/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2789/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-2789
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2789
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-2789

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-2789/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.