zbar — security advisory
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.
- Products
- zbar
- Affected versions
- 0.23-1.1, 0.23-1.2, 0.23-1.3, 0.23.90-1, 0.23.92-4, 0.23.92-4build2, 0.23.93-7, 0.23.93-8, 0.23.93-9ubuntu1, 0.23.93-9ubuntu2
- Fixed versions
- 0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1, 0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1
- CVEs
- CVE-2023-40890
- Confirmed fixed CVEs
- Not specified
- Updated in this feed
- 31 Oct 2026, 01:04 UTC · Revision 1
Source evidence
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.
osv:UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890
zbar
Fixed versions: 0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1
zbar
Fixed versions: 0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1
zbar
Fixed versions: Not specified
zbar
Fixed versions: Not specified
zbar
Fixed versions: Not specified
Complete source record
{
"id": "eac76e40cbfc91e77695425af55c1319e9d66585afa84912db9b0cd7ae32b941",
"url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890",
"method": "structured",
"payload": {
"kind": "advisory",
"title": "UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890",
"summary": "A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability exists in the lookup_sequence function of ZBar 0.23.90. Specially crafted QR codes may lead to information disclosure and/or arbitrary code execution. To trigger this vulnerability, an attacker can digitally input the malicious QR code, or prepare it to be physically scanned by the vulnerable scanner.",
"evidence": "osv:UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890",
"products": [
{
"name": {
"value": "zbar",
"evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1",
"evidence": "/affected/0/ranges"
}
],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23-1.1",
"evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23-1.2",
"evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23-1.3",
"evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "zbar",
"evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1",
"evidence": "/affected/1/ranges"
}
],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23.90-1",
"evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23.92-4",
"evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23.92-4build2",
"evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "zbar",
"evidence": "/affected/2/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23.93-7",
"evidence": "/affected/2/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23.93-8",
"evidence": "/affected/2/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "zbar",
"evidence": "/affected/3/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1",
"evidence": "/affected/3/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2",
"evidence": "/affected/3/versions"
}
]
},
{
"name": {
"value": "zbar",
"evidence": "/affected/4/package/name"
},
"prerequisites": [],
"fixed_versions": [],
"affected_versions": [
{
"value": "0.23.93-8",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
},
{
"value": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1",
"evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
}
]
}
],
"severity": "critical",
"structured": {
"id": "UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890",
"aliases": [
"UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890"
],
"metrics": [
{
"type": "CVSS_V3",
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
},
{
"type": "CVSS_V3",
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H"
},
{
"type": "Ubuntu",
"score": "medium"
}
],
"affected": [
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "zbar",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/zbar?arch=source&distro=esm-apps%2Ffocal",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"0.23-1.1",
"0.23-1.2",
"0.23-1.3"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2023/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "libbarcode-zbar-perl",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbar0",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbargtk0",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbarqt0",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "python3-zbar",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbar-tools",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-gtk",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-qt",
"binary_version": "0.23-1.3ubuntu0.1~esm1"
}
],
"availability": "Available with Ubuntu Pro: https://ubuntu.com/pro"
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "zbar",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/zbar?arch=source&distro=esm-apps%2Fjammy",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"0.23.90-1",
"0.23.92-4",
"0.23.92-4build2"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2023/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "libbarcode-zbar-perl",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbar0",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbargtk0",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbarqt0",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "python3-zbar",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbar-tools",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-gtk",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-qt",
"binary_version": "0.23.92-4ubuntu0.1~esm1"
}
],
"availability": "Available with Ubuntu Pro: https://ubuntu.com/pro"
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "zbar",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/zbar?arch=source&distro=questing",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:25.10"
},
"versions": [
"0.23.93-7",
"0.23.93-8"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2023/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "gir1.2-zbar-1.0",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "libbarcode-zbar-perl",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbar0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbargtk0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbarqt0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "python3-zbar",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbar-tools",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-gtk",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-qt",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-8"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "zbar",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/zbar?arch=source&distro=stonking",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:26.10"
},
"versions": [
"0.23.93-9ubuntu1",
"0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2023/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "gir1.2-zbar-1.0",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "libbarcode-zbar-perl",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbar0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbargtk0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbarqt0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "python3-zbar",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbar-tools",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-gtk",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-qt",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu2"
}
]
}
},
{
"ranges": [
{
"type": "ECOSYSTEM",
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
}
]
}
],
"package": {
"name": "zbar",
"purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/zbar?arch=source&distro=resolute",
"ecosystem": "Ubuntu:26.04:LTS"
},
"versions": [
"0.23.93-8",
"0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
],
"database_specific": {
"source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2023/UBUNTU-CVE-2023-40890.json"
},
"ecosystem_specific": {
"binaries": [
{
"binary_name": "gir1.2-zbar-1.0",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libbarcode-zbar-perl",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbar0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbargtk0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "libzbarqt0t64",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "python3-zbar",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbar-tools",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-gtk",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
},
{
"binary_name": "zbarcam-qt",
"binary_version": "0.23.93-9ubuntu1"
}
]
}
}
],
"modified": "2026-10-17T12:56:25.037831426Z",
"provider": "osv",
"upstream": [
"CVE-2023-40890"
],
"references": [
"https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-40890",
"https://hackmd.io/@cspl/H1PxPAUnn",
"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-40890",
"https://ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-7118-1"
]
},
"related_cves": [
{
"value": "CVE-2023-40890",
"evidence": "/upstream"
}
],
"security_relevant": true,
"severity_evidence": "/severity/0/score"
},
"source_id": "core-osv",
"document_id": 355605,
"published_at": "2023-08-29T17:15:00+00:00"
}