diff --git a/.github/DISCUSSION_TEMPLATE/bug-reports.yml b/.github/DISCUSSION_TEMPLATE/bug-reports.yml
index 7f8dfb6e5e..3a3c429d1a 100644
--- a/.github/DISCUSSION_TEMPLATE/bug-reports.yml
+++ b/.github/DISCUSSION_TEMPLATE/bug-reports.yml
@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ body:
       label: Version
       description: Which version of the game did the bug happen in? You can see the current version number in the bottom left corner of your screen in the main menu.
       options:      
-        - v1.3.0.3
-        - v1.4.0.0 (unstable)
+        - v1.3.0.4
+        - v1.4.3.0 (unstable)
         - Other
     validations:
       required: true
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/ClientSource/Networking/Primitives/Peers/P2POwnerPeer.cs b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/ClientSource/Networking/Primitives/Peers/P2POwnerPeer.cs
index 537345b0c8..f9b0d00819 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/ClientSource/Networking/Primitives/Peers/P2POwnerPeer.cs
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/ClientSource/Networking/Primitives/Peers/P2POwnerPeer.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-#nullable enable
+#nullable enable
 using Barotrauma.Extensions;
 using Barotrauma.Steam;
 using System;
@@ -152,7 +152,16 @@ private void OnP2PData(P2PEndpoint senderEndpoint, IReadMessage inc)
 
             if (packetHeader.IsConnectionInitializationStep())
             {
-                ConnectionInitialization initialization = peerPacketHeaders.Initialization ?? throw new Exception("Initialization step missing");
+                if (peerPacketHeaders.Initialization == null)
+                {
+                    //can happen if the packet is crafted in a way to leave the Initialization value as null
+                    DebugConsole.ThrowErrorOnce(
+                        $"P2POwnerPeer.OnP2PData:{remotePeer.Endpoint.StringRepresentation}", 
+                        $"Failed to initialize remote peer {remotePeer.Endpoint.StringRepresentation}: initialization step missing.");
+                    CommunicateDisconnectToRemotePeer(remotePeer, PeerDisconnectPacket.WithReason(DisconnectReason.MalformedData));
+                    return;
+                }
+                ConnectionInitialization initialization = peerPacketHeaders.Initialization.Value;
                 if (initialization == ConnectionInitialization.AuthInfoAndVersion
                     && remotePeer.AuthStatus == RemotePeer.AuthenticationStatus.NotAuthenticated)
                 {
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/LinuxClient.csproj b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/LinuxClient.csproj
index 5bfa863a17..bc6057d8ba 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/LinuxClient.csproj
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/LinuxClient.csproj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <RootNamespace>Barotrauma</RootNamespace>
     <Authors>FakeFish, Undertow Games</Authors>
     <Product>Barotrauma</Product>
-    <Version>1.3.0.3</Version>
+    <Version>1.3.0.4</Version>
     <Copyright>Copyright © FakeFish 2018-2023</Copyright>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>
     <AssemblyName>Barotrauma</AssemblyName>
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/MacClient.csproj b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/MacClient.csproj
index 6891d13113..6fbbca0c55 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/MacClient.csproj
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/MacClient.csproj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <RootNamespace>Barotrauma</RootNamespace>
     <Authors>FakeFish, Undertow Games</Authors>
     <Product>Barotrauma</Product>
-    <Version>1.3.0.3</Version>
+    <Version>1.3.0.4</Version>
     <Copyright>Copyright © FakeFish 2018-2023</Copyright>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>
     <AssemblyName>Barotrauma</AssemblyName>
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/WindowsClient.csproj b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/WindowsClient.csproj
index 7ba7dd5f65..c0ab50d093 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/WindowsClient.csproj
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaClient/WindowsClient.csproj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <RootNamespace>Barotrauma</RootNamespace>
     <Authors>FakeFish, Undertow Games</Authors>
     <Product>Barotrauma</Product>
-    <Version>1.3.0.3</Version>
+    <Version>1.3.0.4</Version>
     <Copyright>Copyright © FakeFish 2018-2023</Copyright>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>
     <AssemblyName>Barotrauma</AssemblyName>
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/LinuxServer.csproj b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/LinuxServer.csproj
index 89c192043b..65273750fd 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/LinuxServer.csproj
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/LinuxServer.csproj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <RootNamespace>Barotrauma</RootNamespace>
     <Authors>FakeFish, Undertow Games</Authors>
     <Product>Barotrauma Dedicated Server</Product>
-    <Version>1.3.0.3</Version>
+    <Version>1.3.0.4</Version>
     <Copyright>Copyright © FakeFish 2018-2023</Copyright>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>
     <AssemblyName>DedicatedServer</AssemblyName>
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/MacServer.csproj b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/MacServer.csproj
index efed825f59..f162a12e02 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/MacServer.csproj
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/MacServer.csproj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <RootNamespace>Barotrauma</RootNamespace>
     <Authors>FakeFish, Undertow Games</Authors>
     <Product>Barotrauma Dedicated Server</Product>
-    <Version>1.3.0.3</Version>
+    <Version>1.3.0.4</Version>
     <Copyright>Copyright © FakeFish 2018-2023</Copyright>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>
     <AssemblyName>DedicatedServer</AssemblyName>
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/WindowsServer.csproj b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/WindowsServer.csproj
index 6f843afd8f..ce53425309 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/WindowsServer.csproj
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaServer/WindowsServer.csproj
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
     <RootNamespace>Barotrauma</RootNamespace>
     <Authors>FakeFish, Undertow Games</Authors>
     <Product>Barotrauma Dedicated Server</Product>
-    <Version>1.3.0.3</Version>
+    <Version>1.3.0.4</Version>
     <Copyright>Copyright © FakeFish 2018-2023</Copyright>
     <Platforms>AnyCPU;x64</Platforms>
     <AssemblyName>DedicatedServer</AssemblyName>
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/SharedSource/DebugConsole.cs b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/SharedSource/DebugConsole.cs
index 98628512cb..062bd0a4c7 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/SharedSource/DebugConsole.cs
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/SharedSource/DebugConsole.cs
@@ -2616,7 +2616,7 @@ public static void ThrowErrorAndLogToGA(string gaIdentifier, string errorMsg)
         /// <summary>
         /// Log the error message, but only if an error with the same identifier hasn't been thrown yet during this session.
         /// </summary>
-        public static void ThrowErrorOnce(string identifier, string errorMsg, Exception e)
+        public static void ThrowErrorOnce(string identifier, string errorMsg, Exception e = null)
         {
             if (loggedErrorIdentifiers.Contains(identifier)) { return; }
             ThrowError(errorMsg, e);
diff --git a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/changelog.txt b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/changelog.txt
index 9b3a8ee2f0..3178f482cd 100644
--- a/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/changelog.txt
+++ b/Barotrauma/BarotraumaShared/changelog.txt
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+v1.3.0.4
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+- Fixed another exploit that allowed crashing servers by sending them specifically crafted malformed data.
+
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 v1.3.0.3
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------