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TI-2018-12074 Aliases CVE-2018-16864GHSA-h53q-m6g5-wfq9

Resource allocation without limits in systemd

Priority LOW 37CWE-770Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Denial of service
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-770.

Summary

An allocation of memory without limits, that could result in the stack clashing with another memory region, was discovered in systemd-journald when a program with long command line arguments calls syslog. A local attacker may use this flaw to crash systemd-journald or escalate his privileges. Versions through v240 are vulnerable.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00711 53rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 6 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
systemdsystemdthrough v240—No fix listedCNA
  • systemd Vendorsystemd Affected through v240 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 23

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 240Vulnerablesystemd
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_server:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.4VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.5VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.6VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.3VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.6VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.4VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.6VulnerableRed Hat
  • cpe:2.3:a:systemd_project:systemd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 240 Vulnerable ·systemd
  • 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_server:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.5 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_aus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.4 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_eus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Show 13 more CPE
CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.3VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.6VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*7.0VulnerableRed Hat
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*9.0VulnerableDebian
cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:16.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*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:oracle:communications_session_border_controller:8.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.0.0VulnerableOracle
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller:8.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.1.0VulnerableOracle
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller:8.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*8.2.0VulnerableOracle
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_communications_broker:3.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.0.0VulnerableOracle
cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_communications_broker:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*3.1.0VulnerableOracle
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.3 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_server_tus:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.6 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux_workstation:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
  • 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: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
  • cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller:8.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.0.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle
  • cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller:8.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.1.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle
  • cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller:8.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.2.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle
  • cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_communications_broker:3.0.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle
  • cpe:2.3:a:oracle:enterprise_communications_broker:3.1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.1.0 Vulnerable ·Oracle

Remediation

Red Hat 6 advisories

  • RHSA-2019:2402 Released 2019-08-07 · Red Hat rating Important
    systemd security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.3) libgudev1-219-30.el7_3.13, libgudev1-devel-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-219-30.el7_3.13 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.3) libgudev1-219-30.el7_3.13, libgudev1-devel-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-219-30.el7_3.13 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.3) systemd-journal-gateway-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-networkd-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-resolved-219-30.el7_3.13
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional E4S (v. 7.3) systemd-journal-gateway-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-networkd-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-resolved-219-30.el7_3.13
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional TUS (v. 7.3) systemd-journal-gateway-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-networkd-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-resolved-219-30.el7_3.13
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.3) libgudev1-219-30.el7_3.13, libgudev1-devel-219-30.el7_3.13, systemd-219-30.el7_3.13 +4
  • RHSA-2019:0361 Released 2019-02-18 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    rhvm-appliance security update
    • Red Hat Virtualization 4 Hypervisor for RHEL 7 rhvm-appliance-2:4.2-20190129.0.el7
    • Red Hat Virtualization 4 Management Agent for RHEL 7 Hosts rhvm-appliance-2:4.2-20190129.0.el7
  • RHSA-2019:0342 Released 2019-02-13 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    redhat-virtualization-host security update
    • RHEL 7-based RHEV-H for RHEV 4 (build requirements) redhat-release-virtualization-host-4.2-8.1.el7, redhat-virtualization-host-image-update-placeholder-4.2-8.1.el7
    • Red Hat Virtualization 4 Hypervisor for RHEL 7 redhat-virtualization-host-4.2-20190129.0.el7_6, redhat-virtualization-host-image-update-4.2-20190129.0.el7_6
Show 3 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2019:0271 Released 2019-02-04 · Red Hat rating Important
    systemd security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.4) libgudev1-219-42.el7_4.13, systemd-219-42.el7_4.13, systemd-libs-219-42.el7_4.13 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.4) libgudev1-devel-219-42.el7_4.13, systemd-devel-219-42.el7_4.13, systemd-journal-gateway-219-42.el7_4.13 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.4) libgudev1-219-42.el7_4.13, libgudev1-219-42.el7_4.13.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-42.el7_4.13 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.4) systemd-journal-gateway-219-42.el7_4.13, systemd-networkd-219-42.el7_4.13, systemd-resolved-219-42.el7_4.13 +1
  • RHSA-2019:0204 Released 2019-01-29 · Red Hat rating Important
    systemd security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) libgudev1-219-57.el7_5.5, systemd-219-57.el7_5.5, systemd-libs-219-57.el7_5.5 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5) libgudev1-devel-219-57.el7_5.5, systemd-devel-219-57.el7_5.5, systemd-journal-gateway-219-57.el7_5.5 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) libgudev1-219-57.el7_5.5, libgudev1-219-57.el7_5.5.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-57.el7_5.5 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.5) systemd-journal-gateway-219-57.el7_5.5, systemd-networkd-219-57.el7_5.5, systemd-resolved-219-57.el7_5.5 +1
  • RHSA-2019:0049 Released 2019-01-14 · Red Hat rating Important
    systemd security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-libs-219-62.el7_6.2 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-devel-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.2 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-libs-219-62.el7_6.2 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7) libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-devel-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.2 +2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.2, libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.2.ppc, libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.2 +8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-networkd-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-resolved-219-62.el7_6.2 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.2, libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-219-62.el7_6.2 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-networkd-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-resolved-219-62.el7_6.2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) libgudev1-219-62.el7_6.2, libgudev1-devel-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-219-62.el7_6.2 +4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7) systemd-journal-gateway-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-networkd-219-62.el7_6.2, systemd-resolved-219-62.el7_6.2

Fixed in the same release

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

  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — GLSA-201903-07

    3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    • TI-2018-12076 Out-of-bounds read in systemdPriority LOW 18
    Show all 3 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — USN-3855-1

    3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    • TI-2018-12076 Out-of-bounds read in systemdPriority LOW 18
    Show all 3 records → Advisory →
Show 6 more groups
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — DSA-4367

    3 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 2 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    • TI-2018-12076 Out-of-bounds read in systemdPriority LOW 18
    Show all 3 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — RHSA-2019:0204

    2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — RHSA-2019:0271

    2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — RHSA-2019:0342

    2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — RHSA-2019:0361

    2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →
  • Advisory ·

    The systemd Project systemd — RHSA-2019:2402

    2 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 1 MEDIUM, 1 LOW

    Other records, highest priority first

    • TI-2018-12075 Resource allocation without limits in systemdPriority MEDIUM 40
    Show all 2 records → Advisory →

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
RHEL 7-based RHEV-H for RHEV 4 (build requirements)Fixed RHSA-2019:0342
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:0271
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2019:0204
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:0271
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode Optional EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2019:0204
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.3)Fixed RHSA-2019:2402
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.3)Fixed RHSA-2019:2402
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:0271
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2019:0204
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional AUS (v. 7.3)Fixed RHSA-2019:2402
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional E4S (v. 7.3)Fixed RHSA-2019:2402
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:0271
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2019:0204
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional TUS (v. 7.3)Fixed RHSA-2019:2402
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.3)Fixed RHSA-2019:2402
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server Optional (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:0049
Red Hat Virtualization 4 Hypervisor for RHEL 7Fixed RHSA-2019:0342, RHSA-2019:0361
Red Hat Virtualization 4 Management Agent for RHEL 7 HostsFixed RHSA-2019:0361
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-16864
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-h53q-m6g5-wfq9

References

Exploit 1

Patch 2

Advisory 12

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