Read the docs
TI-2018-11755 Aliases CVE-2018-16402GHSA-c337-vg7c-wfqh

libelf/elf_end.c in elfutils 0.173 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service…

Priority MEDIUM 48CWE-415Published · 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: 15 fixed, 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-415 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

libelf/elf_end.c in elfutils 0.173 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (double free and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact because it tries to decompress twice.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03691 89th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 2 advisoriesRed Hat: 15 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
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 10

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:elfutils_project:elfutils:0.173:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.173VulnerableElfutils Project
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.0VulnerableopenSUSE
cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*15.1VulnerableopenSUSE
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:a:elfutils_project:elfutils:0.173:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.173 Vulnerable ·Elfutils Project
  • cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_desktop:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 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:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.0 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:15.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.1 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
  • 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

Remediation

Red Hat 2 advisories

  • RHSA-2020:1471 Released 2020-04-14 · Red Hat rating Low
    elfutils security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6) elfutils-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-libelf-0.172-4.el7_6 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.6) elfutils-devel-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-devel-static-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-libelf-devel-0.172-4.el7_6 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6) elfutils-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-devel-0.172-4.el7_6 +7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.6) elfutils-devel-static-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-devel-static-0.172-4.el7_6.ppc, elfutils-libelf-devel-static-0.172-4.el7_6 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) elfutils-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-devel-0.172-4.el7_6 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) elfutils-devel-static-0.172-4.el7_6, elfutils-libelf-devel-static-0.172-4.el7_6
  • RHSA-2019:2197 Released 2019-08-06 · Red Hat rating Low
    elfutils security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) elfutils-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-libelf-0.176-2.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) elfutils-devel-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-devel-static-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-libelf-devel-0.176-2.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) elfutils-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-libelf-0.176-2.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) elfutils-devel-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-devel-static-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-libelf-devel-0.176-2.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) elfutils-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-devel-0.176-2.el7 +7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) elfutils-devel-static-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-devel-static-0.176-2.el7.ppc, elfutils-libelf-devel-static-0.176-2.el7 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) elfutils-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-default-yama-scope-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-devel-0.176-2.el7 +3
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) elfutils-devel-static-0.176-2.el7, elfutils-libelf-devel-static-0.176-2.el7

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Virtualization 4AffectedNo fix planned: Will not fix
Red Hat Ansible Tower 3.4 for RHEL 7 ServerFixed—
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2020:1471
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2020:1471
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2020:1471
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2020:1471
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2197
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2020:1471
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2020:1471
Not affected: 3 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16402
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-c337-vg7c-wfqh

References

Sources