Cyber Resilience

CVE-2023-50965

Memory Safety in Starnight Micro Http Server

Public PoCMemory Safety
Published
17 December 2023
Modified
21 November 2024
Patch / advisory
View advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 9.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.015 73th percentile
Risk Priority 81 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2023-50965 is a critical-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Starnight Micro Http Server. Its CVSS base score is 9.8 (Critical).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1068); ranked in the top 27% of CVEs by exploit likelihood; it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog; a public proof-of-concept is referenced.

Deeper analysis AI-assisted summary

Synthesised by an AI model from the NVD description and linked references — a reading aid, not an authoritative source.

CVE-2023-50965 is a stack-based buffer overflow in MicroHttpServer (also known as Micro HTTP Server) through commit 4398570. The flaw resides in the _ReadStaticFiles function within lib/middleware.c and is triggered by an overly long URI supplied to the server. It is tracked under CWE-787 and carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8.

An unauthenticated remote attacker can send a crafted HTTP request containing a long URI to trigger the overflow. Successful exploitation may allow arbitrary code execution on the affected server with no user interaction or credentials required.

Public references consist of GitHub issue #5 and the repository commit history for the project, which document the vulnerable code path but do not describe an official patch or mitigation steps.

EPSS for the CVE rose from a low baseline to a peak of 0.1195 on 2026-01-13 before receding to the current value of 0.0498, indicating a measurable increase in observed exploitation interest after disclosure.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

In MicroHttpServer (aka Micro HTTP Server) through 4398570, _ReadStaticFiles in lib/middleware.c allows a stack-based buffer overflow and potentially remote code execution via a long URI.

CWE(s)
CWE-787

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise Techniques

T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation Privilege Escalation
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to elevate privileges.
attack.mitre.org →
T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application Initial Access
Adversaries may attempt to exploit a weakness in an Internet-facing host or system to initially access a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
attack.mitre.org →
T1210 Exploitation of Remote Services Lateral Movement
Adversaries may exploit remote services to gain unauthorized access to internal systems once inside of a network.
attack.mitre.org →
T1211 Exploitation for Stealth Stealth
Adversaries may exploit vulnerabilities to evade detection by hiding activity, suppressing logging, or operating within trusted or unmonitored components.
attack.mitre.org →
T1212 Exploitation for Credential Access Credential Access
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in an attempt to collect credentials.
attack.mitre.org →
Derived from this CVE’s CWE(s) via the direct CWE→ATT&CK cross-walk.

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2020-0986Shared CWE-787
CVE-2023-44807Shared CWE-787
CVE-2023-33635Shared CWE-787
CVE-2021-30761Shared CWE-787
CVE-2025-47725Shared CWE-787
CVE-2023-23456Shared CWE-787
CVE-2024-20067Shared CWE-787
CVE-2024-11793Shared CWE-787
CVE-2024-20103Shared CWE-787
CVE-2023-24130Shared CWE-787

Affected Assets

starnight
micro http server
all versions

Mitigating Controls

Likely Mitigating Controls AI

Per-CVE control mapping for this CVE has not run yet; the list below is derived from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry.

SI-16 Memory Protection
addresses: CWE-787

Out-of-bounds writes that corrupt control flow or inject shellcode are rendered non-executable by the same memory protections.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 mostly match
prevents

Secure-development practices (static analysis, bounds checking, code review) are the primary means of preventing out-of-bounds writes.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover out-of-bounds write flaws so they can be remediated.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Patching or replacing vulnerable software directly eliminates known instances of this coding weakness.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

A.8.29 Security testing in development and acceptance mostly match
finds

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect and prevent out-of-bounds write defects.

A.8.25 Secure development life cycle partial match
prevents

Secure development life cycle mandates practices that prevent out-of-bounds writes.

A.8.26 Application security requirements partial match
prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory handling.

A.8.27 Secure system architecture and engineering principles partial match
prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles reduce the likelihood of buffer overflows.

A.8.28 Secure coding partial match
prevents

Secure coding directly addresses out-of-bounds writes through language choice and coding standards.

A.8.32 Change management partial match
prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References