CVE-2023-48229 [High] | Out-of-bounds Write in Contiki-Ng

Contiki-NG is an open-source, cross-platform operating system for Next-Generation IoT devices. An out-of-bounds write exists in the driver for IEEE 802.15.4 radios on nRF platforms in the Contiki-NG operating system. The problem is triggered when parsing radio frames in the `read_frame` function in the `arch/cpu/nrf/net/nrf-ieee-driver-arch.c` module. More specifically, the `read_frame` function performs an incomplete validation of the payload length of the packet, which is a value that can be set by an external party that sends radio packets to a Contiki-NG system. Although the value is validated to be in the range of the MTU length, it is not validated to fit into the given buffer into which the packet will be copied. The problem has been patched in the "develop" branch of Contiki-NG and is expected to be included in subsequent releases. Users are advised to update their develop branch or to update to a subsequent release when available. Users unable to upgrade should consider manually applying the changes in PR #2741.

#	Date	Old EPSS score	New EPSS score	Delta (New - Old)
1	2025-11-21	0.49%	0.43%	-0.07%
2	2025-11-18	0.43%	0.49%	+0.07%
3	2025-07-05	—	0.43%	—

Date

Old EPSS score

New EPSS score

Delta (New - Old)

2025-11-21

0.49%

0.43%

-0.07%

2025-11-18

0.43%

0.49%

+0.07%

2025-07-05

—

0.43%

—

Base score	Version	Severity	Vector	Exploitability	Impact	Score source
7.0	3.1	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:N) Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine. Attack complexity (AC:H) Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:L) Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump. Integrity (I:L) Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	2.2	4.7	[email protected]
7.6	3.1	HIGH	`CVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H` Click to expand Attack vector (AV:A) Attacker has to be nearby on the network—same office, same link, that vibe—not the whole wide internet. Attack complexity (AC:L) Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup. Privileges required (PR:N) No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough. User interaction (UI:N) Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping. Scope (S:U) Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems. Confidentiality (C:L) Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump. Integrity (I:L) Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes. Availability (A:H) Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.	2.8	4.7	[email protected]

Base score

Version

Severity

Vector

Exploitability

Impact

Score source

7.0

3.1

HIGH

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

Attack vector (AV:N): Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:H): Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:L): Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump.
Integrity (I:L): Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

2.2

4.7

[email protected]

7.6

3.1

HIGH

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

Attack vector (AV:A): Attacker has to be nearby on the network—same office, same link, that vibe—not the whole wide internet.
Attack complexity (AC:L): Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N): No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:N): Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U): Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:L): Some sensitive info could get out, but not a total data dump.
Integrity (I:L): Attackers could change some data, but it’s limited—not everything goes.
Availability (A:H): Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

2.8

4.7

[email protected]

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-48229

Vendor	Product	Version	Raw CPE
contiki-ng	contiki-ng	<= 4.9	cpe:2.3:o:contiki-ng:contiki-ng::::::::

References for CVE-2023-48229

URL	Tags
https://github.com/contiki-ng/contiki-ng/pull/2741	Patch
https://github.com/contiki-ng/contiki-ng/security/advisories/GHSA-rcwv-xwc9-5hp2	Vendor Advisory

URL

CVE-2023-48229 | Out-of-bounds write in the radio driver for Contiki-NG nRF platforms

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2023-48229

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2023-48229

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2023-48229

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2023-48229

References for CVE-2023-48229