An issue was discovered in ncurses through v6.2-1.
Priority MEDIUM 46CWE-787Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
An issue was discovered in ncurses through v6.2-1. _nc_captoinfo in captoinfo.c has a heap-based buffer overflow.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.03243 88th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
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
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:invisible-island:ncurses:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 6.2.1 | Vulnerable | Invisible-island |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.12.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.12.6 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:11.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.7 | Vulnerable | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:13.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 13.0 | Vulnerable | Apple |
- cpe:2.3:a:invisible-island:ncurses:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 6.2.1 Vulnerable ·Invisible-island
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:mac_os_x:10.12.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.12.6 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:11.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.7 Vulnerable ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:13.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 13.0 Vulnerable ·Apple
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-39537
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-v5gv-3mwr-6223
- 2026-10-08 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Advisory 8
- https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses/2021-10/msg00023.html
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213443
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213444
- https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213488
- 20221030 APPLE-SA-2022-10-27-5 Additional information for APPLE-SA-2022-10-24-2 macOS Ventura 13
- 20221030 APPLE-SA-2022-10-24-2 macOS Ventura 13
- 20221030 APPLE-SA-2022-10-27-7 Additional information for APPLE-SA-2022-09-12-4 macOS Monterey 12.6
- 20221030 APPLE-SA-2022-10-27-9 Additional information for APPLE-SA-2022-09-12-3 macOS Big Sur 11.7
Sources
- CVE-2021-39537 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-39537 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-v5gv-3mwr-6223 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-39537 · 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