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TI-2018-01002 Aliases CVE-2018-1083GHSA-pqpc-3fmx-3wqw

Buffer overflow in zsh

Priority LOW 35CWE-120Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
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-120 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

Zsh before version 5.4.2-test-1 is vulnerable to a buffer overflow in the shell autocomplete functionality. A local unprivileged user can create a specially crafted directory path which leads to code execution in the context of the user who tries to use autocomplete to traverse the before mentioned path. If the user affected is privileged, this leads to privilege escalation.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.00594 48th 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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
zshzshbefore zsh 5.4.2-test-1—No fix listedCNA
  • zsh Vendorzsh Affected before zsh 5.4.2-test-1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 11

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:zsh:zsh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 5.4.1Vulnerablezsh
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*14.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*16.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:17.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*17.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*6.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*6.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*6.0VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:zsh:zsh:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 5.4.1 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
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 1 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2018:3073 Released 2018-10-30 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    zsh 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 Moderate
    zsh 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: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo 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

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-1083
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-pqpc-3fmx-3wqw

References

Patch 1

Advisory 6

Other 1

  • TI-2017-13391 In utils.c in zsh before 5.4, symlink expansion had a buffer overflow. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2018-09527 Improper input validation in zsh before 5.6 CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2018-05456 In subst.c in zsh through 5.4.2, there is a NULL pointer dereference when using ${(PA)...} on an empty array result. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2018-00459 Improper input validation in zsh before 5.6 CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2014-08227 In exec.c in zsh before 5.0.7, there is a buffer overflow for very long fds in the ">& fd" syntax. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2016-08755 In zsh before 5.3, an off-by-one error resulted in undersized buffers that were intended to support PATH_MAX characters. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
See all 12 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences