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Vulnerability record · CVE-2023-46256 · published 31 October 2023

CVE-2023-46256: Dronecode px4 drone autopilot classic buffer overflow vulnerability

Dronecode · Px4 Drone Autopilot

PX4-Autopilot provides PX4 flight control solution for drones. In versions 1.14.0-rc1 and prior, PX4-Autopilot has a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the parser function due to the absence of `parserbuf_index` value checking. A malfunction of the sensor device can cause a heap buffer overflow with leading unexpected drone behavior. Malicious applications can exploit the vulnerability even if device sensor malfunction does not occur. Up to the maximum value of an `unsigned int`, bytes sized data can be written to the heap memory area. As of time of publication, no fixed version is available.

9.8 CVSS 3.1 Critical EPSS 0.63% · top 51.9% CWE-120 · Classic buffer overflowCWE-122 · Heap-based buffer overflow
9.8CVSS 3.1 base score
0.63%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
4References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

PX4-Autopilot provides PX4 flight control solution for drones. In versions 1.14.0-rc1 and prior, PX4-Autopilot has a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the parser function due to the absence of `parserbuf_index` value checking. A malfunction of the sensor device can cause a heap buffer overflow with leading unexpected drone behavior. Malicious applications can exploit the vulnerability even if device sensor malfunction does not occur. Up to the maximum value of an `unsigned int`, bytes sized data can be written to the heap memory area. As of time of publication, no fixed version is available.

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/src/drivers/distance_sensor/lightware_laser_serial/parser.cpp#L87 Product
https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/security/advisories/GHSA-5hvv-q2r5-rppw ExploitVendor Advisory
https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/blob/main/src/drivers/distance_sensor/lightware_laser_serial/parser.cpp#L87 Product
https://github.com/PX4/PX4-Autopilot/security/advisories/GHSA-5hvv-q2r5-rppw ExploitVendor Advisory

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2023-46256), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.