# CVE-2023-28501: Heap buffer overflow in unirpcd

> Heap buffer overflow in the unirpcd daemon allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with root privileges.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 29 Mar 2023
- **Updated:** 18 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-jhq5-5c6h-9xj2

## What is CVE-2023-28501?

CVE-2023-28501 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Rocket Software UniData, published on 29 Mar 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Rocket Software UniData versions prior to 8.2.4 build 3003 and UniVerse versions prior to 11.3.5 build 1001 or 12.2.1 build 2002 suffer from a heap-based buffer overflow in the unirpcd daemon that, if successfully exploited, can lead to remote code execution as the root user.

Weakness: CWE-190 (Integer Overflow or Wraparound)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-28501?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Rocketsoftware Unidata, Rocketsoftware Universe.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-28501?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-28501 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-28501 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-28501 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Rocket Software UniData

- [CVE-2023-28502](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28502/): Stack buffer overflow in UniRPC's udadmin_server service (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28503](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28503/): Authentication bypass in UniRPC's udadmin service (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28504](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28504/): Stack buffer overflow in UniRPC library function (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28507](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28507/): Memory exhaustion in LZ4 decompression in UniRPC daemon (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2023-28506](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28506/): Stack buffer overflow in UniRPC service (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-28501 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-28501 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Rocket Software UniData, published on 29 Mar 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-2023-28501 exists.

Affected product: Rocket Software UniData. 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-2023-28501/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28501/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-28501
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28501
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-28501

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-28501/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.