How severe is CVE-2023-38852?

CVE-2023-38852 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2023-38852 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2023-38852?

CVE-2023-38852 affects Libxls Project Libxls. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2023-38852?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2023-38852 published?

CVE-2023-38852 was published on 2023-08-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2023-38852

CVE-2023-38852 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Libxls Project Libxls with a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-787.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 6.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (64th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-787
Affected product: Libxls Project Libxls
Published: 2023-08-15
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Buffer Overflow vulnerability in libxlsv.1.6.2 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code and cause a denial of service via a crafted XLS file to the unicode_decode_wcstombs function in xlstool.c:266.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2023-38852?: Buffer Overflow vulnerability in libxlsv.1.6.2 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code and cause a denial of service via a crafted XLS file to the unicode_decode_wcstombs function in xlstool.c:266.
How severe is CVE-2023-38852?: CVE-2023-38852 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 6.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2023-38852 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (64th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2023-38852?: CVE-2023-38852 affects Libxls Project Libxls. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2023-38852?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2023-38852 published?: CVE-2023-38852 was published on 2023-08-15 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:libxls_project:libxls:1.6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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