# CVE-2018-6344: Memory corruption in WhatsApp for Android

> A heap corruption vulnerability in WhatsApp allows attackers to cause denial of service via malformed RTP packets during calls.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 31 Dec 2018
- **Updated:** 6 May 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vhw2-763j-8c4r

## What is CVE-2018-6344?

CVE-2018-6344 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Facebook WhatsApp for Android, published on 31 Dec 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A heap corruption in WhatsApp can be caused by a malformed RTP packet being sent after a call is established. The vulnerability can be used to cause denial of service. It affects WhatsApp for Android prior to v2.18.293, WhatsApp for iOS prior to v2.18.93, and WhatsApp for Windows Phone prior to v2.18.172.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-6344?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Whatsapp Whatsapp.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-6344?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-6344 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-6344 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-6344 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Facebook WhatsApp for Android

- [CVE-2019-3568](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-3568/): WhatsApp VOIP Stack Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-18426](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18426/): WhatsApp Cross-Site Scripting (high 8.2, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-55177](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-55177/): Meta Platforms WhatsApp Incorrect Authorization (medium 5.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-36934](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-36934/): Integer overflow in WhatsApp Business for Android (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-24042](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-24042/): Memory corruption in WhatsApp Business for Android (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-6344 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-6344 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Facebook WhatsApp for Android, published on 31 Dec 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-2018-6344 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Facebook WhatsApp for Android. 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-2018-6344/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6344/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-6344
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6344
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-6344

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6344/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.