Description
Due to failure in validating the length provided by an attacker-crafted PPD PostScript document, CUPS and libppd are susceptible to a heap-based buffer overflow and possibly code execution. This issue has been fixed in CUPS version 2.4.7, released in September of 2023.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| OpenPrinting | CUPS | < 2.4.6 | 2.4.6 |
| OpenPrinting | libppd | — | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | cups | 2.4.2-6 | — |
| Debian 13 | cups | 2.4.2-6 | — |
| Debian 12 | cups | 2.4.2-3+deb12u2 | — |
| Debian 10 | cups | 2.2.10-6+deb10u9 | DLA-3594-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | cups | 2.4.1op1-1ubuntu4.7 | USN-6391-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | libppd | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | cups | 2.3.1-9ubuntu1.6 | USN-6391-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | libppd | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | libppd | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libppd | No fix yet | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | cups | 2.2.7-1ubuntu2.10+esm2 | USN-6391-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | cups | 2.1.3-4ubuntu0.11+esm4 | USN-6391-2 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
Show 21 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | cups | 2.4.11-1.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20090-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-2 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | cups | 1.7.5-20.46.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | cups | 2.4.2-7.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:13250-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | cups | 2.2.7-150000.3.51.2 | SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | cups +7 | 1:2.3.3op2-18.amzn2023.0.7 | ALAS2023-2023-361 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | cups +6 | 1:1.6.3-51.amzn2.0.4 | ALAS2-2023-2293 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | cups | 2.4.10-1 | — |
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | cups | 2.3.3op2-7 | — |
Wolfi
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolfi rolling | cups | 2.4.7-r0 | — |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
GitHub 1 repository
-
djjohnson565/CUPS-Exploit ★ 3 · May 8, 2025
Heap-based buffer overflow example based on CVE-2023-4504
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 14
- WID-SEC-2023-2917 Xerox FreeFlow Print Server: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 30, 2026
- USN-6391-2 cups vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- USN-6391-1 cups vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20090-1 Security update for cups SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- DLA-3594-1 cups - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:3707-2 Security update for cups SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:13250-1 cups-2.4.2-7.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:3706-1 Security update for cups SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:3707-1 Security update for cups SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-2402 CUPS: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 3, 2025
- WID-SEC-2024-2154 Apple macOS: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Mar 11, 2025
- NCSC-2024-0381 Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Apple MacOS NCSC-NL (Netherlands) · Sep 26, 2024
- ALAS2-2023-2293 Moderate: cups security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 19, 2023
- ALAS2023-2023-361 Moderate: cups security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 3, 2023
References
- https://takeonme.org/cves/CVE-2023-4504.html technical-description third-party-advisory
- https://github.com/OpenPrinting/libppd/security/advisories/GHSA-4f65-6ph5-qwh6 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/OpenPrinting/cups/security/advisories/GHSA-pf5r-86w9-678h vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/OpenPrinting/cups/releases/tag/v2.4.7 release-notes
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/AMYDKIE4PSJDEMC5OWNFCDMHFGLJ57XG/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5WVS4I7JG3LISFPKTM6ADKJXXEPEEWBQ/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5WHEJIYMMAIXU2EC35MGTB5LGGO2FFJE/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/T2GSPQAFK2Z6L57TRXEKZDF42K2EVBH7/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/09/msg00041.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PXPVADB56NMLJWG4IZ3OZBNJ2ZOLPQJ6/