# CVE-2018-12882: Use after free in n/a

> Attackers can trigger a use-after-free in PHP's exif extension via crafted image files, potentially leading to code execution or crashes.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 26 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-p666-3cc6-g2c6, SUSE-SU-2018:1886-1, SUSE-SU-2018:1936-1, SUSE-SU-2018:1936-2, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-12882, USN-3702-1, USN-3702-2

## What is CVE-2018-12882?

CVE-2018-12882 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 26 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

exif_read_from_impl in ext/exif/exif.c in PHP 7.2.x through 7.2.7 allows attackers to trigger a use-after-free (in exif_read_from_file) because it closes a stream that it is not responsible for closing. The vulnerable code is reachable through the PHP exif_read_data function.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12882?

It affects 3 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `php7` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 12 | All versions | 7.0.7-50.41.1 |
| `php7` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 15 | All versions | 7.2.5-4.3.1 |
| `php7` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Web and Scripting 15 | All versions | 7.2.5-4.3.1 |
| `php7` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3 | All versions | 7.0.7-50.41.1 |

Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Netapp Storage Automation Store, Php Php.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12882?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-12882 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12882 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2018-12882 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12882 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 26 Jun 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-2018-12882 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-2018-12882/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12882/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12882
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12882
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12882

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12882/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.