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Vulnerability record · CVE-2018-16864 · published 11 January 2019

CVE-2018-16864: Systemd project systemd allocation without limits vulnerability

Systemd Project · Systemd

An allocation of memory without limits, that could result in the stack clashing with another memory region, was discovered in systemd-journald when a program with long command line arguments calls syslog. A local attacker may use this flaw to crash systemd-journald or escalate his privileges. Versions through v240 are vulnerable.

7.8 CVSS 3.1 High EPSS 0.71% · top 48.3% CWE-770 · Allocation without limits
7.8CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 4.6
0.71%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
11Affected product versions listed by NVD
34References, 2 tagged exploit
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

An allocation of memory without limits, that could result in the stack clashing with another memory region, was discovered in systemd-journald when a program with long command line arguments calls syslog. A local attacker may use this flaw to crash systemd-journald or escalate his privileges. Versions through v240 are vulnerable.

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

Affected products

11 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/07/20/2 Mailing List
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106523 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0327 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0049 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0204 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0271 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0342 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0361 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2402 Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16864 Issue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/01/msg00016.html Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-07 Third 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-4367 Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html PatchThird Party Advisory
https://www.qualys.com/2019/01/09/system-down/system-down.txt ExploitThird Party Advisory
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/07/20/2 Mailing List
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/106523 Third Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2019:0327 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0049 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0204 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0271 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0342 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:0361 Third Party Advisory
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2402 Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-16864 Issue TrackingPatchThird Party Advisory
https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2019/01/msg00016.html Third Party Advisory
https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201903-07 Third 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-4367 Third Party Advisory
https://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuapr2019-5072813.html PatchThird Party Advisory
https://www.qualys.com/2019/01/09/system-down/system-down.txt ExploitThird Party Advisory

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2018-16864), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-29). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.