# CVE-2018-19931: Memory corruption in n/a

> A heap-based buffer overflow in the BFD library allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted ELF files.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** 7 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2018-19931, CLEANSTART-2025-JG55495, DEBIAN-CVE-2018-19931, GHSA-7w52-j2x8-qcp8, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-19931

## What is CVE-2018-19931?

CVE-2018-19931 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 7 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

An issue was discovered in the Binary File Descriptor (BFD) library (aka libbfd), as distributed in GNU Binutils through 2.31. There is a heap-based buffer overflow in bfd_elf32_swap_phdr_in in elfcode.h because the number of program headers is not restricted.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-19931?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Gnu Binutils, Netapp Vasa Provider.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-19931?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-19931 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-19931 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-2018-19931 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-19931 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 7 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-2018-19931 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-2018-19931/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19931/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19931
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19931
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-19931

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-19931/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.