CVE-2023-40549: Shim: out-of-bounds read in verify_buffer_authenticode() malformed pe file

Published Oct 2, 2023
·
Updated

An out-of-bounds read flaw was found in Shim due to the lack of proper boundary verification during the load of a PE binary. This flaw allows an attacker to load a crafted PE binary, triggering the issue and crashing Shim, resulting in a denial of service.

Other sources

An out-of-bounds read issue exists in the verifybufferauthenticode() function in shim.c. This issue is due to adding an offset to a pointer and then accessing the result without proper bounds checking. This bug is reachable by providing a malformed PE file to shim. This code runs before signature validation of the PE file.

Red Hat

rhboot shim is vulnerable to a denial of service, caused by an out-of-bounds read flaw in the verifybufferauthenticode() function in shim.c. By providing a specially crafted PE file, a local attacker could exploit this vulnerability to cause the application to crash.

IBM

Affected Software

8 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/shim<15.8
15.8
redhat Shim<15.8
Fedoraproject Fedora=39
redhat Enterprise Linux=8.0
redhat Enterprise Linux=9.0
IBM R10.0<=10.1.3.0 10.0.245.0
IBM R9.4<=89.42.18.0 89.41.25.0 89.40.83.0
IBM R9.3<=89.33.52.0 89.33.45.0

Event History

Jan 29, 2024
CVE Published
via MITRE·04:29 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·04:29 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
May 27, 2025
Data Sourced
via IBM·12:00 AM
DescriptionAffected Software

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2023-40549?

CVE-2023-40549 has a medium severity rating due to the potential for denial of service.

2

How do I fix CVE-2023-40549?

To address CVE-2023-40549, update shim to version 15.8 or higher.

3

What causes CVE-2023-40549?

CVE-2023-40549 is caused by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in shim when loading a crafted PE binary.

4

Which systems are affected by CVE-2023-40549?

CVE-2023-40549 affects Red Hat Shim versions below 15.8 and Fedora 39 along with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.0 and 9.0.

5

What are the potential impacts of CVE-2023-40549?

The main impact of CVE-2023-40549 is a denial of service, which can crash shim when exploited.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203