# CVE-2018-11412: Use after free in n/a

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel ext4 filesystem allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges via a crafted filesystem image.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.9 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 May 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-11412, GHSA-p2xr-7hvv-jq75, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-11412

## What is CVE-2018-11412?

CVE-2018-11412 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 24 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel 4.13 through 4.16.11, ext4_read_inline_data() in fs/ext4/inline.c performs a memcpy with an untrusted length value in certain circumstances involving a crafted filesystem that stores the system.data extended attribute value in a dedicated inode.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-11412?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-11412?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-11412 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11412 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Public exploit code:

- Linux Kernel < 4.16.11 - 'ext4_read_inline_data()' Memory Corruption (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-2018-11412 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-11412 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 24 May 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-11412 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2018-11412/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11412/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-11412
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11412
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-11412

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-11412/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.