# CVE-2018-18989: Use after free in CX-One (CX-Programmer and CX-Server)

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code via crafted project files due to a use-after-free vulnerability in Omron CX-One applications.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** No
- **Published:** 4 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6mv5-3jxx-rprv

## What is CVE-2018-18989?

CVE-2018-18989 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in CX-One (CX-Programmer and CX-Server), published on 4 Dec 2018. 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

In CX-One Versions 4.42 and prior (CX-Programmer Versions 9.66 and prior and CX-Server Versions 5.0.23 and prior), when processing project files, the application fails to check if it is referencing freed memory. An attacker could use a specially crafted project file to exploit and execute code under the privileges of the application.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-18989?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Omron Cx-One, Omron Cx-Programmer, Omron Cx-Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-18989?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-18989 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-18989 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-18989 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in CX-One (CX-Programmer and CX-Server)

- [CVE-2020-27259](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27259/): Omron CX-One (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-27261](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27261/): Omron CX-One (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2022-21137](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-21137/): Omron CX-One (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-27413](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-27413/): Memory corruption in Omron CX-One (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-27257](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27257/): Omron CX-One (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-18989 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-18989 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in CX-One (CX-Programmer and CX-Server), published on 4 Dec 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-18989 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: CX-One (CX-Programmer and CX-Server). 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-2018-18989/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18989/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-18989
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-18989
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-18989

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-18989/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.