# CVE-2023-40305: Memory corruption in n/a

> A heap-based buffer overflow in GNU indent allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via a crafted file.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Aug 2023
- **Updated:** 9 Oct 2024
- **Also known as:** AZL-43837, AZL-45015, DEBIAN-CVE-2023-40305, GHSA-9rpm-p244-mjrf, MGASA-2023-0274, OESA-2023-1552, ROOT-OS-ALPINE-318-CVE-2023-40305, ROOT-OS-ALPINE-319-CVE-2023-40305, ROOT-OS-ALPINE-320-CVE-2023-40305, SUSE-SU-2023:3432-1, SUSE-SU-2023:3433-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40305, USN-6389-1, openSUSE-SU-2024:13149-1

## What is CVE-2023-40305?

CVE-2023-40305 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

GNU indent 2.2.13 has a heap-based buffer overflow in search_brace in indent.c via a crafted file.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-40305?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `indent` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | All versions | 2.2.11-150000.3.6.1 |
| `indent` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | All versions | 2.2.11-150000.3.6.1 |
| `indent` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5 | All versions | 2.2.10-38.6.1 |
| `indent` | openSUSE:Leap 15.4 | All versions | 2.2.11-150000.3.6.1 |
| `indent` | openSUSE:Leap 15.5 | All versions | 2.2.11-150000.3.6.1 |
| `indent` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 2.2.13-2.1 |

Products: Gnu Indent.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-40305?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2023-40305 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-40305 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2024-0911](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-0911/): Indent: heap-based buffer overflow in set_buf_break() (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-40305 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-40305 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Aug 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-40305 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2023-40305/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40305/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40305
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40305
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-40305

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-40305/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.