# CVE-2019-8981: Memory corruption in n/a

> A buffer overflow in the axTLS library allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted TLS packets.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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:** 26 Mar 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7h69-845w-hf28

## What is CVE-2019-8981?

CVE-2019-8981 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Mar 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

tls1.c in Cameron Hamilton-Rich axTLS before 2.1.5 has a Buffer Overflow via a crafted sequence of TLS packets because the need_bytes value is mismanaged.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-8981?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Axtls Project Axtls.

## How do I fix CVE-2019-8981?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-8981 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-8981 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-8981 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2019-10013](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-10013/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2019-9689](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-9689/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2018-16149](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16149/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2018-16150](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16150/): Weak cryptography in n/a (medium 5.9)
- [CVE-2018-16253](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-16253/): Security feature bypass in n/a (medium 5.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2019-8981 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-8981 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 26 Mar 2019. 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-2019-8981 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2019-8981/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8981/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8981
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8981
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-8981

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8981/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.