CVE-2023-5217 Google Chromium libvpx Heap Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Google Chromium libvpx contains a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in vp8 encoding that allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. This vulnerability could impact web browsers using libvpx, including but not limited to Google Chrome.
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 2 Oct 2023.
- Rated High severity (CVSS 8.8, scored by CISA).
- It has been in the catalogue for 1,131 days. Systems still unpatched now have almost certainly been scanned for it.
What It Is
Heap buffer overflow in vp8 encoding in libvpx in Google Chrome prior to 117.0.5938.132 and libvpx 1.13.1 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
Affected Versions
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| Google Chrome | 117.0.5938.132 to before 117.0.5938.132 |
| Google libvpx | 1.13.1 to before 1.13.1 |
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 libvpx. 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-2023-5217 and every other exploited flaw on the list.
Sources
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue
- NVD: CVE-2023-5217
- CVE record: CVE-2023-5217
- FIRST EPSS
- chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_27.html
- crbug.com/1486441
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/28/5
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/28/6
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/29/1
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/29/2
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/29/7
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/09/29/9
