Heap-based buffer overflow in PolarSSL 1.x before 1.2.17 and ARM mbed TLS (formerly…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Heap-based buffer overflow in PolarSSL 1.x before 1.2.17 and ARM mbed TLS (formerly PolarSSL) 1.3.x before 1.3.14 and 2.x before 2.1.2 allows remote SSL servers to cause a denial of service (client crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long hostname to the server name indication (SNI) extension, which is not properly handled when creating a ClientHello message. NOTE: this identifier has been SPLIT per ADT3 due to different affected version ranges. See CVE-2015-8036 for the session ticket issue that was introduced in 1.3.0.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 9
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:polarssl:polarssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.0.0 to before 1.2.17 | Vulnerable | polarssl |
| cpe:2.3:a:trustedfirmware:mbed_tls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 1.3.0 to before 1.3.14; 2.0.0 to before 2.1.2 | Vulnerable | OP-TEE |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 21 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:22:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 22 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:23:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 23 | Vulnerable | Fedoraproject |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 42.1 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13.2 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
- cpe:2.3:a:polarssl:polarssl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.0.0 to before 1.2.17 Vulnerable ·polarssl
- cpe:2.3:a:trustedfirmware:mbed_tls:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.3.0 to before 1.3.14; 2.0.0 to before 2.1.2 Vulnerable ·OP-TEE
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 21 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:22:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 22 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:23:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 23 Vulnerable ·Fedoraproject
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 42.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2015-5291
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hhcq-g9mx-qpfg
References
Advisory 10
- DSA-3468
- https://guidovranken.files.wordpress.com/2015/10/cve-2015-5291.pdf
- https://guidovranken.wordpress.com/2015/10/07/cve-2015-5291/
- FEDORA-2015-30a417bea9
- FEDORA-2015-e22bb33731
- FEDORA-2015-7f939b3af5
- https://tls.mbed.org/tech-updates/security-advisories/mbedtls-security-advisory-2015-01
- openSUSE-SU-2015:2257
- GLSA-201706-18
- openSUSE-SU-2015:2371
Sources
- CVE-2015-5291 · CVE Program
- CVE-2015-5291 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hhcq-g9mx-qpfg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2015-5291 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences