glibc: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
CVE-2026-19499 is a high-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in glibc from The GNU C Library, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.7 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. Affected glibc versions: 2.38 through 2.44. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.3% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of glibc you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| The GNU C Library | glibc | 2.38 through 2.44 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- LowLimited modification of data is possible.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
Calling strfmon and strfmon_l in the GNU C Library version 2.38 to 2.44 can write past the end of the caller-supplied output buffer when a conversion uses right-justified width padding. Exploitation requires an application code path that calls strfmon or strfmon_l with right-justified width padding into a destination buffer that is large enough for the padding to succeed but too small for the internal memmove call. The field width or format may be attacker-influenced or a fixed susceptible pattern in the caller. At the time of publication, no network-facing application impact is known.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Heap-based Buffer Overflow
The product writes past the end of a buffer that was allocated on the heap.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Pre-design: Use a language or compiler that performs automatic bounds checking.
- Use an abstraction library to abstract away risky APIs. Not a complete solution.
- Use automatic buffer overflow detection mechanisms that are offered by certain compilers or compiler extensions. Examples include: the Microsoft Visual Studio /GS flag, Fedora/Red Hat FORTIFY_SOURCE GCC flag, StackGuard, and ProPolice, which provide various mechanisms including canary-based detection and range/index checking. D3-SFCV (Stack Frame Canary Validation) from D3FEND discusses canary-based detection in detail.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in glibc
- 7.0 High severity
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
Recent Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.4 High severity
- 9.0 Critical severity
- 8.0 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
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