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TI-2018-11176 Aliases CVE-2018-15686GHSA-86rx-vp92-xvgg

systemd: reexec state injection: fgets() on overlong lines leads to line splitting

Priority MEDIUM 40CWE-502Published · 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
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-502.

Summary

A vulnerability in unit_deserialize of systemd allows an attacker to supply arbitrary state across systemd re-execution via NotifyAccess. This can be used to improperly influence systemd execution and possibly lead to root privilege escalation. Affected releases are systemd versions up to and including 239.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.02261 83rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA and NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 4 advisories

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
systemdsystemdup to 239—No fix listedCNA
  • systemd Vendorsystemd Affected up to 239 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 6

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:*16.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*18.04VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*18.10VulnerableCanonical
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 239Vulnerablesystemd
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_cloud_native_core_network_function_cloud_native_environment:1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*1.4.0VulnerableOracle
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:esm:*:*:* Versions 16.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* Versions 18.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 18.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 239 Vulnerable ·systemd
  • cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_cloud_native_core_network_function_cloud_native_environment:1.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 1.4.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle

Remediation

Red Hat 4 advisories

  • RHSA-2020:1264 Released 2020-04-01 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    systemd security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) libgudev1-219-57.el7_5.9, systemd-219-57.el7_5.9, systemd-libs-219-57.el7_5.9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5) libgudev1-devel-219-57.el7_5.9, systemd-devel-219-57.el7_5.9, systemd-journal-gateway-219-57.el7_5.9 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) libgudev1-219-57.el7_5.9, libgudev1-219-57.el7_5.9.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-57.el7_5.9 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.5) systemd-journal-gateway-219-57.el7_5.9, systemd-networkd-219-57.el7_5.9, systemd-resolved-219-57.el7_5.9 +1
  • RHSA-2020:0593 Released 2020-02-25 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    systemd security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.4) libgudev1-219-42.el7_4.20, libgudev1-devel-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-219-42.el7_4.20 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.4) libgudev1-219-42.el7_4.20, libgudev1-devel-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-219-42.el7_4.20 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.4) systemd-journal-gateway-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-networkd-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-resolved-219-42.el7_4.20
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional E4S (v. 7.4) systemd-journal-gateway-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-networkd-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-resolved-219-42.el7_4.20
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional TUS (v. 7.4) systemd-journal-gateway-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-networkd-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-resolved-219-42.el7_4.20
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.4) libgudev1-219-42.el7_4.20, libgudev1-devel-219-42.el7_4.20, systemd-219-42.el7_4.20 +4
  • RHSA-2019:3222 Released 2019-10-29 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    systemd security and bug fix update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-libs-219-62.el7_6.11 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.6) libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-devel-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.11 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.11, libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.11.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.11 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.6) systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-networkd-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-resolved-219-62.el7_6.11 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.11, libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-219-62.el7_6.11 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-networkd-219-62.el7_6.11, systemd-resolved-219-62.el7_6.11
Show 1 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2019:2091 Released 2019-08-06 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    systemd security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, systemd-219-67.el7, systemd-libs-219-67.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, systemd-219-67.el7, systemd-libs-219-67.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, libgudev1-219-67.el7.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7, systemd-networkd-219-67.el7, systemd-resolved-219-67.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) libgudev1-219-67.el7, libgudev1-devel-219-67.el7, systemd-219-67.el7 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-67.el7, systemd-networkd-219-67.el7, systemd-resolved-219-67.el7

Fixed in the same release

Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.

  • Advisory ·

    systemd — GLSA-201810-10

    3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 2 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-11178 Out-of-Bounds write in systemd-networkd dhcpv6 option handlingPriority MEDIUM 43
    • TI-2018-11177 systemd: chown_one() can dereference symlinksPriority LOW 35
    Show all 3 records → Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7 ServerFixed—
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2020:1264
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2019:3222
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2020:1264
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2019:3222
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2020:0593
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2020:0593
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2020:1264
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2019:3222
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2020:0593
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional E4S (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2020:0593
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2020:1264
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2019:3222
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional TUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2020:0593
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2020:0593
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2091
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3222
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3222
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-15686
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-86rx-vp92-xvgg

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Advisory 7

Other 1

  • TI-2023-11736 systemd before 247 does not adequately block local privilege escalation for some Sudo… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2017-06857 In systemd through 233, certain sizes passed to dns_packet_new in systemd-resolved can… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2026-29031 In nspawn in systemd 233 through 259 before 260, an escape-to-host action can occur via a crafted optional config file. CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.4
  • TI-2022-04038 Information disclosure in systemd CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
  • TI-2025-04111 Systemd-coredump: race condition that allows a local attacker to crash a suid program and… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 4.7
  • TI-2017-11647 In systemd 223 through 235, a remote DNS server can respond with a custom crafted DNS… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 54 →

Sources

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