# CVE-2018-2796: Denial of service in Java

> Unauthenticated attackers can cause a partial denial of service in Java SE via network access, affecting both client and server deployments.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Apr 2018
- **Updated:** 6 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vh2v-2967-cm2v, MINI-32fc-v58w-gwxv, MINI-j956-54qg-jvvr, MINI-rp5x-qv9v-w4cg, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-2796

## What is CVE-2018-2796?

CVE-2018-2796 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 19 Apr 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Vulnerability in the Java SE, Java SE Embedded, JRockit component of Oracle Java SE (subcomponent: Concurrency). Supported versions that are affected are Java SE: 7u171, 8u162 and 10; Java SE Embedded: 8u161; JRockit: R28.3.17. Easily exploitable vulnerability allows unauthenticated attacker with network access via multiple protocols to compromise Java SE, Java SE Embedded, JRockit. Successful attacks of this vulnerability can result in unauthorized ability to cause a partial denial of service (partial DOS) of Java SE, Java SE Embedded, JRockit. Note: Applies to client and server deployment of Java. This vulnerability can be exploited through sandboxed Java Web Start applications and sandboxed Java applets. It can also be exploited by supplying data to APIs in the specified Component without using sandboxed Java Web Start applications or sandboxed Java applets, such as through a web service. CVSS 3.0 Base Score 5.3 (Availability impacts). CVSS Vector: (CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L).

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-2796?

It affects 14 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Hp Xp7 Command View, Oracle Jdk, Oracle Jre, Oracle Jrockit, Redhat Enterprise Linux Desktop, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Aus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Eus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Server Tus, Redhat Enterprise Linux Workstation, Redhat Satellite, Schneider-Electric Struxureware Data Center Expert.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-2796?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-2796 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-2796 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-2018-2796 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-2796 is a medium-severity denial of service vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 19 Apr 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-2018-2796 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-2018-2796/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2796/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-2796
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-2796
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-2796

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-2796/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.