Format string vulnerability in the yyerror function in lib/cgraph/scan.l in Graphviz allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via
Format string vulnerability in the yyerror function in lib/cgraph/scan.l in Graphviz allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via format string specifiers in unknown vectors, which are not properly handled in an error string.
- Published
- Dec 3, 2014
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 5.6% · 93th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-134
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Report tools
Action score
32
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 2 / 30 · 5.6%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| graphviz | graphviz | cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz |
| debian | debian linux | cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- debian debian linux7.0
- debian debian linux8.0
- graphviz graphvizbefore 2.42.4
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | graphviz | before 2.38.0-7 | 2.38.0-7 |
| Debian:6.0 | graphviz | before 2.26.3-5+squeeze3 | 2.26.3-5+squeeze3 |
| Debian:7 | graphviz | before 2.26.3-14+deb7u2 | 2.26.3-14+deb7u2 |
Same product
graphviz: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2014-1236Stack-based buffer overflow in the chkNum function in lib/cgraph/scan.l in Graphviz 2.34.0 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impac42Plan
- CVE-2014-0978Stack-based buffer overflow in the yyerror function in lib/cgraph/scan.l in Graphviz 2.34.0 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impa38Monitor
- CVE-2019-11023The agroot() function in cgraph\obj.c in libcgraph.a in Graphviz 2.39.20160612.1140 has a NULL pointer dereference, as demonstrated by graph36Monitor
- CVE-2008-4555Stack-based buffer overflow in the push_subg function in parser.y (lib/graph/parser.c) in Graphviz 2.20.2, and possibly earlier versions, al36Monitor
- CVE-2020-18032Buffer Overflow in Graphviz Graph Visualization Tools from commit ID f8b9e035 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code 32Monitor
- CVE-2014-1235Stack-based buffer overflow in the "yyerror" function in Graphviz 2.34.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial32Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:graphviz | 2.38.0-7 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- P · data can be read
- Integrity
- P · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- P · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- P
- Integrity impact
- P
- Availability impact
- P
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-134 · Use of Externally-Controlled Format StringCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
ATT&CK techniques
—
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- secunia.com/advisories/60166
- advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2014-0520.html
- www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3098
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2014:248
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:187
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/71283
- exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/98949
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.