Stack-based buffer overflow in the _nc_write_entry function in tinfo/write_entry.c in…
Priority LOW 39CWE-787Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Stack-based buffer overflow in the _nc_write_entry function in tinfo/write_entry.c in ncurses 6.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted terminfo file, as demonstrated by tic.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02392 84th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
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 · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:invisible-island:ncurses:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Invisible-island |
- cpe:2.3:a:invisible-island:ncurses:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Invisible-island
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-16879
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-r8vx-h3vx-6wh2
References
Advisory 4
Other 2
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210628 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210629 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8
More Invisible-island Ncurses vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-42919 Stack-based buffer overflow in GNU ncurses CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2020-13550 Buffer Overflow vulnerability in _nc_find_entry function in tinfo/comp_hash.c:66 in… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2017-07812 In ncurses 6.0, there is a stack-based buffer overflow in the fmt_entry function. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2017-07813 In ncurses 6.0, there is a format string vulnerability in the fmt_entry function. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-16802 An issue was discovered in ncurses through v6.2-1. CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2017-10003 There is an infinite loop in the next_char function in comp_scan.c in ncurses 6.0… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2017-16879 · CVE Program
- CVE-2017-16879 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-r8vx-h3vx-6wh2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2017-16879 · 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