# CVE-2018-19491: Memory corruption in n/a

> Buffer overflow in Gnuplot's postscript terminal allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted font arguments.

- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 23 Nov 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-19491, GHSA-pxmp-9pvp-h94j, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-19491

## What is CVE-2018-19491?

CVE-2018-19491 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 23 Nov 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

An issue was discovered in post.trm in Gnuplot 5.2.5. This issue allows an attacker to conduct a buffer overflow with an arbitrary amount of data in the PS_options function. This flaw is caused by a missing size check of an argument passed to the "set font" function. This issue occurs when the Gnuplot postscript terminal is used as a backend.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-19491?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Gnuplot Gnuplot, Opensuse Leap.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-19491?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-19491 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-19491 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-19491 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-19491 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 23 Nov 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-2018-19491 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Debian Debian 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-2018-19491/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19491/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19491
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19491
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-19491

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19491/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.