Bochs 2.6-5 Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution
Priority HIGH 81CWE-787Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Bochs 2.6-5 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying an oversized input string to the application. Attackers can craft a malicious payload with 1200 bytes of padding followed by a return-oriented programming chain to overwrite the instruction pointer and execute shell commands with application privileges.
Why it matters now
Exploitation Proof of concept CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00648 51st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by the CNA and NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- Poc
- Automatable
- Yes
- Technical impact
- Total
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| bochs | BOCHS | 2.6-5 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- BOCHS Vendorbochs Affected 2.6-5 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:bochs_project:bochs:2.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.5 | Vulnerable | Bochs Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:bochs_project:bochs:2.6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.5 Vulnerable ·Bochs Project
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-25220
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fx87-p9wh-85gp
- 2026-10-25 EPSS moved to the 50th–90th percentile
References
Exploit 1
Other 1
More Bochs Project Bochs vulnerabilities
- TI-2004-02243 Buffer overflow in Bochs before 2.1.1, if installed setuid, allows local users to execute… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2007-02800 Heap-based buffer overflow in the bx_ne2k_c::rx_frame function in iodev/ne2k.cc in the… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.2
- TI-2007-02801 The emulated floppy disk controller in Bochs 2.3 allows local users of the guest… CVSS 2.0LOW 2.1
Sources
- CVE-2018-25220 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-25220 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fx87-p9wh-85gp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2018-25220 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences