---
title: "CVE-2023-20197\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-20197?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2023-20197

Publication date 17 August 2023

Last updated 4 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-20197?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

A vulnerability in the filesystem image parser for Hierarchical File System
Plus (HFS+) of ClamAV could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to
cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to an incorrect check for completion when a
file is decompressed, which may result in a loop condition that could cause
the affected software to stop responding. An attacker could exploit this
vulnerability by submitting a crafted HFS+ filesystem image to be scanned
by ClamAV on an affected device. A successful exploit could allow the
attacker to cause the ClamAV scanning process to stop responding, resulting
in a DoS condition on the affected software and consuming available system
resources.
For a description of this vulnerability, see the ClamAV blog .

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2023-20197?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| clamav | 23.04 lunar | Fixed 0.103.9+dfsg-0ubuntu0.23.04.1 |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Fixed 0.103.9+dfsg-0ubuntu0.22.04.1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 0.103.9+dfsg-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 0.103.9+dfsg-0ubuntu0.18.04.1+esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 0.103.9+dfsg-0ubuntu0.16.04.1+esm1  Ubuntu Pro |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 0.103.9+dfsg-0ubuntu0.14.04.1+esm1  Ubuntu Pro |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

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## Notes

---

### [mdeslaur](https://launchpad.net/~mdeslaur)

per upstream: "This issue affects versions 1.1.0, 1.0.1 through
1.0.0, 0.105.2 through 0.105.0, 0.104.4 through 0.104.0, and
0.103.8 through 0.103.0."

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | None |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2023-20197)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-20197)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2023-20197)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2023-20197)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-6303-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-6303-1)
+ ClamAV vulnerability
+ 21 August 2023

+ [USN-6303-2](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-6303-2)
+ ClamAV vulnerability
+ 21 August 2023

### Other references

* <https://blog.clamav.net/2023/07/2023-08-16-releases.html>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-20197>