Heap-based buffer overflow in the __nss_hostname_digits_dots function in glibc 2.2, and other 2.x versions before 2.18, allows context-depen
Heap-based buffer overflow in the __nss_hostname_digits_dots function in glibc 2.2, and other 2.x versions before 2.18, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to the (1) gethostbyname or (2) gethostbyname2 function, aka "GHOST."
- Published
- Jan 28, 2015
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 94.6% · 100th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-787
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Report tools
Action score
68
This week
Don’t wait for the next maintenance window.
- CVSS
- 40 / 40 · 10.0 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 28 / 30 · 94.6%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| gnu | glibc | cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc |
| oracle | communications application session controller | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_application_session_controller |
| oracle | communications eagle application processor | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_eagle_application_processor |
| oracle | communications eagle lnp application processor | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_eagle_lnp_application_processor |
| oracle | communications lsms | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_lsms |
| oracle | communications policy management | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_policy_management |
| oracle | communications session border controller | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_session_border_controller |
| oracle | communications user data repository | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_user_data_repository |
| oracle | communications webrtc session controller | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:communications_webrtc_session_controller |
| oracle | exalogic infrastructure | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:exalogic_infrastructure |
| oracle | vm virtualbox | cpe:2.3:a:oracle:vm_virtualbox |
| oracle | linux | cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux |
and 6 more
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- php php5.4.0 and later · before 5.4.38
- php php5.5.0 and later · before 5.5.22
- php php5.6.0 and later · before 5.6.6
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | glibc | before 2.18-1 | 2.18-1 |
| Debian:6.0 | eglibc | before 2.11.3-4+deb6u4 | 2.11.3-4+deb6u4 |
| Debian:7 | eglibc | before 2.13-38+deb7u7 | 2.13-38+deb7u7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc-common | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc-debuginfo | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc-debuginfo-common | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc-devel | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc-headers | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | glibc-utils | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | nscd | before 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-common | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-debuginfo | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-debuginfo-common | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-devel | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-headers | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-static | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | glibc-utils | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | nscd | before 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::hypervisor | rhev-hypervisor6 | before 0:6.6-20150123.1.el6ev | 0:6.6-20150123.1.el6ev |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | glibc | before 0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 | 0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | glibc-common | before 0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 | 0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | glibc-debuginfo | before 0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 | 0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 |
+59
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2023-4911Glibc: buffer overflow in ld.so leading to privilege escalationKEV85Now
- CVE-2015-7547Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the (1) send_dg and (2) send_vc functions in the libresolv library in the GNU C Library (aka glibc 59Plan
- CVE-2024-2961The iconv() function in the GNU C Library versions 2.39 and older may overflow the output buffer passed to it by up to 4 bytes when converti55Plan
- CVE-2018-11236stdlib/canonicalize.c in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.27 and earlier, when processing very long pathname arguments to the realpa41Plan
- CVE-2015-8779Stack-based buffer overflow in the catopen function in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.23 allows context-dependent attackers41Plan
- CVE-2015-8778Integer overflow in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.23 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (appl41Plan
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:eglibc | 2.11.3-4+deb6u4 · Debian:6.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:glibc | 2.18-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-common | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-debuginfo | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-debuginfo-common | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-devel | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-headers | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-profile | 0:2.3.4-2.57.el4.2 · Red Hat:rhel_els:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-static | 0:2.12-1.149.el6_6.5 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:glibc-utils | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nptl-devel | 0:2.3.4-2.57.el4.2 · Red Hat:rhel_els:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nscd | 0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rhev-hypervisor6 | 0:6.6-20150123.1.el6ev · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::hypervisor | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
Weaponized
A ready exploit tool or active in-the-wild use is known for this vulnerability. This should be your top priority.
Evidence
- Metasploit module ×2
- Exploit-DB entry ×2
- Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub ×16
Noroxi does not host or link to exploit code. Metasploit module names and Nuclei template ids are shown (names, not code); Exploit-DB entries and PoC repositories are given as counts only.
| Source | Kind | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Exploit-DB entry | dos | 2015-01-29 |
| Exploit-DB entry | remote | 2015-03-18 |
| Metasploit module | auxiliary/scanner/http/wordpress_ghost_scannerWordPress XMLRPC GHOST Vulnerability Scannerauxiliary | — |
| Metasploit module | exploit/linux/smtp/exim_gethostbyname_bofExim GHOST (glibc gethostbyname) Buffer Overflowexploit | 2015-01-27 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:6 | 2015-01-27 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:3 | 2015-01-27 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:15 | 2015-01-27 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2015-01-28 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2015-01-28 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2015-01-28 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:1 | 2015-01-29 |
| Proof-of-concept repository on GitHub | stars:0 | 2015-01-29 |
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.
- First PoC-2 d
- Metasploit-2 d
- Published
- TodaySep 30, 2026+4263 d
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
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-787 · Out-of-bounds WriteCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
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.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
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
- blogs.sophos.com/2015/01/29/sophos-products-and-the-ghost-vulnerability-affecting-linux/
- linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2015-0090.html
- linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2015-0092.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Jun/msg00002.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Oct/msg00005.html
- lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Sep/msg00008.html
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142296726407499&w=2
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142721102728110&w=2
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142722450701342&w=2
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142781412222323&w=2
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=143145428124857&w=2
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/130768/EMC-Secure-Remote-Services-GHOST-SQL-Injection-Command-Injection.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-0126.html
- seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/Jan/111
- seclists.org/oss-sec/2015/q1/269
- secunia.com/advisories/62517
- secunia.com/advisories/62640
- secunia.com/advisories/62667
- secunia.com/advisories/62680
- secunia.com/advisories/62681
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.