RCE in GNU Patch
CVE-2018-20969
do_ed_script in pch.c in GNU patch through 2.7.6 does not block strings beginning with a ! character. NOTE: this is the same commit as for CVE-2019-13638, but the ! syntax is specific to ed, and is unrelated to a shell metacharacter.
Vulnerability class: Command Injection (OS Command Injection)
Published · last modified .
CVSS v3 metric
CVSS v3 base score 7.8 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
EPSS exploit prediction
EPSS: 0.027 (85.4th percentile), scored .
Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 85th percentile — 85.4% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.
EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.027 · newest: 0.027 · change: 0.000
Affected products
Weakness classification (CWE)
Public proof-of-concept exploits
References
- git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/patch.git/commit/ (Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Aug/29 (mailing-list, Exploit, Patch, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/154124/GNU-patch-Command-Injection-Directory-Trav… (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
- github.com/irsl/gnu-patch-vulnerabilities
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2798 (vendor-advisory)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:2964 (vendor-advisory)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3757 (vendor-advisory)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:3758 (vendor-advisory)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2019:4061 (vendor-advisory)
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2018-20969?
- CVE-2018-20969 is a high-severity vulnerability in GNU Patch, classified under OS Command Injection. CVSS score: 7.8/10. Published 2019-08-16.
- How severe is CVE-2018-20969?
- High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.8 out of 10.
- Is CVE-2018-20969 known to be exploited?
- 3 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.