CVE-2017-16879 Memory corruption in n/a
Attackers can cause crashes or execute arbitrary code via a crafted terminfo file due to a stack-based buffer overflow in the ncurses library.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- A user has to click or open something
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2017-16879?
CVE-2017-16879 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 22 Nov 2017. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Official description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the _nc_write_entry function in tinfo/write_entry.c in ncurses 6.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted terminfo file, as demonstrated by tic.
Weakness: CWE-787
Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-16879?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Invisible-Island Ncurses.
How do I fix CVE-2017-16879?
Upgrade to a fixed version.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2017-16879 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-16879 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in n/a
Sources
Also known as ALPINE-CVE-2017-16879, CLEANSTART-2026-LL25077, DEBIAN-CVE-2017-16879, GHSA-r8vx-h3vx-6wh2, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-16879.