CVE-2023-34318: A heap buffer overflow vulnerability was found in sox, in the startread function at sox/src/hcom.c:160:41

Routine

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2023-34318 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting sound exchange, extra packages for enterprise linux, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A heap buffer overflow vulnerability was found in sox, in the startread function at sox/src/hcom.c:160:41. This flaw can lead to a denial of service, code execution, or information disclosure.

Why this priority

High severity
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.3% (top 80%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-122, CWE-787
Published	2023-07-10
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: fedoraproject · redhat · sound exchange project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-07-10 18:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 06:03 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sound exchange project sound exchange DOWNGRADE

Affected: 14.4.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 14.4.3

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy sound-exchange || rpm -q sound-exchange || sound-exchange --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 14.4.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison sound-exchange sudo apt install sound-exchange=<VERSION_BEFORE_14.4.3> sudo apt-mark hold sound-exchange

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list sound-exchange sudo dnf downgrade sound-exchange-<VERSION_BEFORE_14.4.3> sudo dnf versionlock add sound-exchange

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

fedoraproject extra packages for enterprise linux DOWNGRADE

Affected: 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux || rpm -q extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux || extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux sudo apt install extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux=<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0> sudo apt-mark hold extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux sudo dnf downgrade extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux-<VERSION_BEFORE_8.0> sudo dnf versionlock add extra-packages-for-enterprise-linux

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 38

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 38

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0 · 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2023-34318?

sound exchange: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; extra packages for enterprise linux: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-34318 being exploited?

CVE-2023-34318 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2023-34318 affect?

CVE-2023-34318 affects sound exchange, extra packages for enterprise linux, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). A heap buffer overflow vulnerability was found in sox, in the startread function at sox/src/hcom.c:160:41. This flaw can lead to a denial of service, code execution, or information disclosure.

How urgent is CVE-2023-34318?

Priority 37/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-34432 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE DOWNGRADE A heap buffer overflow vulnerability was found in sox, in the lsx_readbuf function at sox/src/formats_i.c:98:1
CVE-2023-32627 MEDIUM 6.2 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE A floating point exception vulnerability was found in sox, in the read_samples function at sox/src/voc.c:334:1
CVE-2023-26590 MEDIUM 6.2 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE A floating point exception vulnerability was found in sox, in the lsx_aiffstartwrite function at sox/src/aiff.
CVE-2022-31651 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE In SoX 14.4.2, there is an assertion failure in rate_init in rate.c in libsox.a.
CVE-2022-31650 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE In SoX 14.4.2, there is a floating-point exception in lsx_aiffstartwrite in aiff.c in libsox.a.

References

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