CVE-2018-16865

Name: CVE-2018-16865
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2019-01-11T21:29:00.257+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 7.8/10EPSS 2.96%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2018-16865 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 7.8/10 on the CVSS scale. An allocation of memory without limits, that could result in the stack clashing with another memory region, was discovered in systemd-journald when many entries are sent to the journal socket. A local attacker, or a remote one if systemd-journal-remote is used, may use this flaw to crash systemd-journald or execute code with journald privileges. EPSS estimates a 2.96% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

An allocation of memory without limits, that could result in the stack clashing with another memory region, was discovered in systemd-journald when many entries are sent to the journal socket. A local attacker, or a remote one if systemd-journal-remote is used, may use this flaw to crash systemd-journald or execute code with journald privileges. Versions through v240 are vulnerable.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

7.8/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS Probability

2.96%

85.5th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Systemd Project	Systemd	<= 240
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Desktop	7.0
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server	7.0
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server Aus	7.3
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server Aus	7.6
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server Eus	7.5
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server Eus	7.6
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server Tus	7.3
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Server Tus	7.6
Redhat	Enterprise Linux Workstation	7.0
Debian	Debian Linux	8.0
Debian	Debian Linux	9.0
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	16.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	18.04
Canonical	Ubuntu Linux	18.10
Oracle	Communications Session Border Controller	8.0.0
Oracle	Communications Session Border Controller	8.1.0
Oracle	Communications Session Border Controller	8.2.0
Oracle	Enterprise Communications Broker	3.0.0
Oracle	Enterprise Communications Broker	3.1.0

References

http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152841/System-Down-A-systemd-journald-Exploit.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/May/21Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/05/10/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/07/20/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106525Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0327Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0049Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0204Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0271Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0342Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0361Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2402Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16865Issue Tracking, Patch
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/01/msg00016.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/May/25Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-07Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190117-0001/Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3855-1/Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4367Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.htmlPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://www.qualys.com/2019/01/09/system-down/system-down.txtExploit, Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152841/System-Down-A-systemd-journald-Exploit.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/May/21Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/05/10/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/07/20/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106525Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0327Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0049Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0204Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0271Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0342Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0361Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2402Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16865Issue Tracking, Patch
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/01/msg00016.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/May/25Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-07Third Party Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190117-0001/Third Party Advisory
https://usn.ubuntu.com/3855-1/Third Party Advisory
https://www.debian.org/security/2019/dsa-4367Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.htmlPatch, Third Party Advisory
https://www.qualys.com/2019/01/09/system-down/system-down.txtExploit, Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Jan 11, 2019
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2018-16865?

How severe is CVE-2018-16865?

CVE-2018-16865 has a CVSS score of 7.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 2.96% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2018-16865?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

Are you affected by CVE-2018-16865?

Run a free Strix scan to check your systems for this vulnerability.

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST