In utils.c in zsh before 5.4, symlink expansion had a buffer overflow.
Priority MEDIUM 48CWE-119Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 18 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In utils.c in zsh before 5.4, symlink expansion had a buffer overflow.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.03114 87th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 18 fixed, 1 without a fix
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 · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:zsh:zsh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 5.4 | Vulnerable | zsh |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 14.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 16.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:17.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:zsh:zsh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 5.4 Vulnerable ·zsh
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 14.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:17.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2018:3073 Released 2018-10-30 · Red Hat rating Moderatezsh security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) zsh-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) zsh-html-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) zsh-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) zsh-html-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) zsh-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) zsh-html-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) zsh-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) zsh-html-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) zsh-5.0.2-31.el7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) zsh-html-5.0.2-31.el7
- RHSA-2018:1932 Released 2018-06-19 · Red Hat rating Moderatezsh security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) zsh-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) zsh-html-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) zsh-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) zsh-html-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) zsh-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) zsh-html-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) zsh-4.3.11-8.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) zsh-html-4.3.11-8.el6
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 Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:1932 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2018:3073 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2017-18206
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-vpqc-mgq5-m5xg
References
Sources
- CVE-2017-18206 · CVE Program
- CVE-2017-18206 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-vpqc-mgq5-m5xg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2017-18206 · 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