CVE-2021-39537

Name: CVE-2021-39537
Creator: NVD / NIST
Published: 2021-09-20T16:15:12.477+00:00
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

HIGHCVSS 8.8/10EPSS 3.00%

Last modified Jun 17, 2026

CVE-2021-39537 is a high-severity vulnerability rated 8.8/10 on the CVSS scale. An issue was discovered in ncurses through v6.2-1. _nc_captoinfo in captoinfo.c has a heap-based buffer overflow.. EPSS estimates a 3.00% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days.

Description

An issue was discovered in ncurses through v6.2-1. _nc_captoinfo in captoinfo.c has a heap-based buffer overflow.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

8.8/10

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

EPSS Probability

3.00%

85.7th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-787

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Gnu	Ncurses	<= 6.2.1
Apple	Mac Os X	10.12.6
Apple	Macos	11.7
Apple	Macos	13.0

References

http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/pkgsrc/devel/ncurses/patches/patch-ncurses_tinfo_captoinfo.c?rev=1.1&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markupPatch, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/28Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/41Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/43Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/45Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00004.html
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses/2020-08/msg00006.htmlExploit, Mailing List, Vendor Advisory
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses/2021-10/msg00023.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230427-0012/
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213443Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213444Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213488Third Party Advisory
http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/pkgsrc/devel/ncurses/patches/patch-ncurses_tinfo_captoinfo.c?rev=1.1&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markupPatch, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/28Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/41Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/43Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2022/Oct/45Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/12/msg00004.html
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses/2020-08/msg00006.htmlExploit, Mailing List, Vendor Advisory
https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ncurses/2021-10/msg00023.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20230427-0012/
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213443Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213444Third Party Advisory
https://support.apple.com/kb/HT213488Third Party Advisory

Timeline

Published: Sep 20, 2021
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2021-39537?

An issue was discovered in ncurses through v6.2-1. _nc_captoinfo in captoinfo.c has a heap-based buffer overflow.

How severe is CVE-2021-39537?

CVE-2021-39537 has a CVSS score of 8.8/10 (HIGH severity). The EPSS model estimates a 3.00% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2021-39537?

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-2021-39537?

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

Scan your code now

Source: NVD / NIST