Heap-based buffer overflow in curl:
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: 1 fixed, 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-122 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Curl versions 7.33.0 through 7.61.1 are vulnerable to a buffer overrun in the SASL authentication code that may lead to denial of service.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Curl Project | curl: | from 7.33.0 to 7.61.1 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- curl: VendorThe Curl Project Affected from 7.33.0 to 7.61.1 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:haxx:curl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.33.0 – 7.61.1 | Vulnerable | Haxx |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 9.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| 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:18.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:* | 18.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:18.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 18.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
- cpe:2.3:a:haxx:curl:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.33.0 – 7.61.1 Vulnerable ·Haxx
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 9.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- 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: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 1 advisory
- RHSA-2019:1543 Released 2019-06-18 · Red Hat rating ImportantRed Hat JBoss Core Services Apache HTTP Server 2.4.29 SP2 security update
- JBoss Core Services Apache HTTP Server 2.4.29 SP2
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Advisory ·
The Curl Project curl: — USN-3805-1
2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 2 MEDIUM
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2018-12052 Out-of-bounds read in curl:Priority MEDIUM 43
- Advisory ·
The Curl Project curl: — DSA-4331
2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 2 MEDIUM
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2018-12052 Out-of-bounds read in curl:Priority MEDIUM 43
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| .NET Core 1.0 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| .NET Core 1.1 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| .NET Core 2.1 on Red Hat Enterprise Linux | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat JBoss Core Services | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Software Collections | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| JBoss Core Services Apache HTTP Server 2.4.29 SP2 | Fixed | RHSA-2019:1543 |
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat JBoss Web Server 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16839
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g54v-fj63-pm34
References
Patch 2
Advisory 5
More The Curl Project vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-02834 Stack-based buffer overflow in curl CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-07082 Buffer overflow in curl CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-07084 Heap-based buffer overflow in curl CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-07081 The function `read_data()` in security.c in curl before version 7.51.0 is vulnerable to memory double free. CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-07080 Use after free in curl CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-12050 Use after free in curl CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2018-16839 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-16839 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g54v-fj63-pm34 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-16839 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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