CVE-2023-4863 Google Chromium WebP Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Google Chromium WebP contains a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows a remote attacker to perform an out-of-bounds memory write via a crafted HTML page. This vulnerability can affect applications that use the WebP Codec.
From the CISA KEV catalogue version 2026.11.06, with Cybergen analysis. Updated 6 Nov 2026.
Should You Worry?
- CISA confirmed exploitation in the wild and added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on 13 Sep 2023.
- Rated High severity (CVSS 8.8, scored by CISA).
- It has been in the catalogue for 1,150 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
What It Is
Heap buffer overflow in libwebp in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.187 and libwebp 1.3.2 allowed a remote attacker to perform an out of bounds memory write via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Critical)
Affected Versions
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | 116.0.5845.187 to before 116.0.5845.187 |
| Google libwebp | 1.3.2 to before 1.3.2 |
From the public CVE record, as supplied by the vendor. Always confirm against the vendor advisory.
What To Do Now
- 1
Find it
Search your asset inventory and external attack surface for Google Chromium WebP. Include cloud images, appliances and anything a supplier runs for you.
Attack Surface Management - 2
Fix it
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Vulnerability Management - 3
Hunt for compromise
If an affected system was reachable before you patched, assume it may have been hit. Check logs, new accounts, web shells and outbound connections from the date of exposure.
Incident Response - 4
Prove it is fixed
Rescan or test the system after patching. Upgrades that fail silently and forgotten secondary instances are common.
Penetration Testing
The Compliance Clock
General guidance, not legal advice. Your obligations depend on your sector, scope and jurisdiction.
Not Sure If You Are Exposed?
Our attack surface and vulnerability teams can check your internet-facing estate for CVE-2023-4863 and every other exploited flaw on the list.
Sources
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
- NVD: CVE-2023-4863
- CVE record: CVE-2023-4863
- FIRST EPSS
- chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_11.html?m=1
- chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_11.html
- crbug.com/1479274
- en.bandisoft.com/honeyview/history/
- stackdiary.com/critical-vulnerability-in-webp-codec-cve-2023-4863/
- mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2023-40/
- github.com/webmproject/libwebp/commit/902bc9190331343b2017211debcec8d2ab87e17a
- msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2023-4863
