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TI-2018-14931 Aliases CVE-2018-20969GHSA-g5pm-269j-95rr

do_ed_script in pch.c in GNU patch through 2.7.6 does not block strings beginning with a…

Priority LOW 39CWE-78Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 13 fixed, 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-78.

Summary

do_ed_script in pch.c in GNU patch through 2.7.6 does not block strings beginning with a ! character. NOTE: this is the same commit as for CVE-2019-13638, but the ! syntax is specific to ed, and is unrelated to a shell metacharacter.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.02684 85th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 5 advisoriesRed Hat: 13 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 · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:patch:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 2.7.6VulnerableGNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:patch:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.7.6 Vulnerable ·GNU

Remediation

Red Hat 5 advisories

  • RHSA-2019:4061 Released 2019-12-03 · Red Hat rating Important
    patch security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.4) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.4) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_4
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.4) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_4
  • RHSA-2019:3758 Released 2019-11-06 · Red Hat rating Important
    patch security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_6
  • RHSA-2019:3757 Released 2019-11-06 · Red Hat rating Important
    patch security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_5
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5) patch-2.7.1-11.el7_5
Show 2 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2019:2964 Released 2019-10-03 · Red Hat rating Important
    patch security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) patch-2.7.1-12.el7_7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7) patch-2.7.1-12.el7_7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) patch-2.7.1-12.el7_7
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) patch-2.7.1-12.el7_7
  • RHSA-2019:2798 Released 2019-09-19 · Red Hat rating Important
    patch security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) patch-2.7.6-9.el8_0

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

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

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5AffectedNo fix planned: Out of support scope
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8)Fixed RHSA-2019:2798
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2964
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2964
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2019:3757
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ComputeNode EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2019:3758
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2964
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server AUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:4061
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server E4S (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:4061
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.5)Fixed RHSA-2019:3757
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server EUS (v. 7.6)Fixed RHSA-2019:3758
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server TUS (v. 7.4)Fixed RHSA-2019:4061
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:2964
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM and IBM Power LE (POWER9) Server (v. 7)Fixed RHSA-2019:3758
Not affected: 1 product
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-20969
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g5pm-269j-95rr

References

Exploit 1

Patch 1

Advisory 6

Other 1

  • TI-2015-01271 Directory traversal vulnerability in GNU patch versions which support Git-style patching… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2018-05076 A double free exists in the another_hunk function in pch.c in GNU patch through 2.7.6. CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2018-05075 An issue was discovered in GNU patch through 2.7.6. CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2018-15808 GNU Patch version 2.7.6 contains an input validation vulnerability when processing patch… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2019-10248 GNU patch through 2.7.6 is vulnerable to OS shell command injection that can be exploited… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2015-01272 A Directory Traversal vulnerability exists in the GNU patch before 2.7.4. CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
See all 14 →

Sources

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