CVE-2023-24537 in Go Scanner
Summary
by MITRE • 04/06/2023
Calling any of the Parse functions on Go source code which contains //line directives with very large line numbers can cause an infinite loop due to integer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-24537 represents a critical security flaw in Go's parsing functionality that can lead to denial of service conditions through infinite loops. This issue specifically affects the Go programming language's ability to process source code containing //line directives with excessively large line numbers. The flaw stems from improper handling of integer overflow conditions during the parsing process, creating a scenario where the parser enters an infinite loop that consumes system resources and potentially crashes applications. The vulnerability impacts any Go application or tool that relies on parsing source code, including compilers, linters, static analysis tools, and code editors that utilize Go's parsing libraries.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the integer overflow behavior within Go's parser implementation when processing //line directives. These directives are used to specify line numbers for error reporting and debugging purposes in preprocessed source code. When the parser encounters line numbers that exceed the maximum value representable by the underlying integer type, it fails to properly handle the overflow condition, resulting in a loop where the parser continuously processes invalid state transitions. This behavior aligns with CWE-191, Integer Underflow or Overflow, and specifically manifests as an infinite loop condition that can be triggered through crafted input. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of inadequate input validation and error handling in parsing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-24537 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise entire development environments and automated build systems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by providing malicious Go source code containing //line directives with extremely large line numbers, causing parsing tools to hang indefinitely or consume excessive CPU resources. This creates a vector for resource exhaustion attacks against continuous integration systems, code analysis platforms, and development environments that process untrusted code. The vulnerability affects the core parsing functionality of Go tools, making it particularly dangerous for security-sensitive applications and automated systems. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, Network Denial of Service, when used to target build systems and automated analysis tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-24537 should focus on immediate patching of affected Go versions and implementation of input validation controls. Organizations should prioritize updating their Go toolchains to versions that address this integer overflow condition in the parser implementation. Additionally, defensive programming practices should be implemented to validate line number ranges in //line directives before processing, preventing the overflow condition from occurring. Security teams should also consider implementing resource limits and timeouts on parsing operations to prevent infinite loop scenarios from consuming excessive system resources. The fix typically involves proper integer overflow detection and handling within the parsing logic, ensuring that line numbers are validated against reasonable bounds before being processed. Regular security assessments of parsing libraries and input validation mechanisms should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other components of the software supply chain.