# CVE-2017-15118: Memory corruption in Qemu

> A stack-based buffer overflow in QEMU's NBD server allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted export name.

- **Severity:** High 8.3 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 27 Jul 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2017-15118, GHSA-p8q8-xqgv-rwvr

## What is CVE-2017-15118?

CVE-2017-15118 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 27 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability was found in NBD server implementation in qemu before 2.11 allowing a client to request an export name of size up to 4096 bytes, which in fact should be limited to 256 bytes, causing an out-of-bounds stack write in the qemu process. If NBD server requires TLS, the attacker cannot trigger the buffer overflow without first successfully negotiating TLS.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-15118?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Qemu Qemu, Redhat Enterprise Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-15118?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-15118 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-15118 exists.

Public exploit code:

- QEMU - NBD Server Long Export Name Stack Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-15118 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-15118 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 27 Jul 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-15118 exists.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15118/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15118/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-15118
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-15118
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-15118

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-15118/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.