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NVD / CVE Program· CNA redhat

CVE-2018-16881: A denial of service vulnerability was found in rsyslog in the imptcp module.

Noroxi assessment

Priority: Monitor (action score 31/100)

  • The sources we track (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, Metasploit, Nuclei, GitHub) show no public exploit code or exploitation in the wild.
  • Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 2.2% (FIRST EPSS); higher than 82.8% of all records.
  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it. No account or password is required. No user action is required. No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
  • Fixed version: rsyslog (Debian:12) 8.27.0-2; rsyslog (Debian:9) 8.24.0-1+deb9u2; rsyslog (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client) 0:8.24.0-38.el7.
  • Severity is disputed: the assigning authority (CNA) scores it 5.3, NVD 7.5.

Low priority for now. Upgrade to rsyslog (Debian:12) 8.27.0-2; rsyslog (Debian:9) 8.24.0-1+deb9u2; rsyslog (Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client) 0:8.24.0-38.el7 or later.

Generated automatically from the record's data: CVSS (NVD and CNA), CISA KEV and SSVC, FIRST EPSS, exploit sources, fixed versions. How we calculate it

Primary sources: NVD · CVE.org · FIRST EPSS

A denial of service vulnerability was found in rsyslog in the imptcp module. An attacker could send a specially crafted message to the imptcp socket, which would cause rsyslog to crash. Versions before 8.27.0 are vulnerable.

HighCVSS 7.5 · v3.1—No exploit Fix available
Published
Jan 25, 2019
Updated
Jun 16, 2026
EPSS
2.2% · 82th percentile

Report tools

JSON

Action score

31

Monitor

Low priority for now.

CVSS
30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
CISA KEV
0 / 30 · Not listed
EPSS
1 / 30 · 2.2%

CNA vs NVD score

NVD
7.5
CNA · redhat
5.3
2.2 point gap

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

The score given by the assigning authority versus NVD’s independent score. A gap means the severity is contested.

Get told when this record changes

  • Not in KEV: no record of exploitation in the wild
  • No public exploit code on record
  • A fix has been released

If any of these changes, we'll tell you in the daily email digest.

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When you'll hear from us

  • when it enters CISA KEV
  • when exploit code appears or is weaponized
  • when the record is updated (including a fixed version)
  • when EPSS rises 20 points in a week

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Noroxi analysis

What does it mean in your environment?

The assessment above is generated automatically from the record's data; it doesn't know your environment. Our team verifies on your systems whether this vulnerability is actually exploitable and which mitigation is enough.

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Affected systems

Is your version affected?

Pick the product and type the version you run. It's compared with this record's version ranges in your browser; the version isn't sent anywhere.

VendorProduct
rsyslogrsyslog
redhatvirtualization manager
redhatenterprise linux desktop
redhatenterprise linux for ibm z systems
redhatenterprise linux for power big endian
redhatenterprise linux for power little endian
redhatenterprise linux for scientific computing
redhatenterprise linux server
redhatenterprise linux workstation
redhatvirtualization
redhatvirtualization host
redhatenterprise linux

and 1 more

Affected versions

NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.

  • debian debian linux9.0
  • redhat enterprise linux desktop7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux for ibm z systems7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux for power big endian7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux for power little endian7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux for scientific computing7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux server7.0
  • redhat enterprise linux workstation7.0
  • redhat virtualization4.0
  • redhat virtualization host4.0
  • redhat virtualization manager4.3
  • rsyslog rsyslogbefore 8.27.0

Versions reported by the vendor

Affected version ranges reported by the assigning authority (redhat). Independent of NVD's CPE analysis and usually ahead of it.

  • The rsyslog Project rsyslog:

    • 8.27.0affected

Package-level exposure

OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.

EcosystemPackageAffected rangeFix
Debian:12rsyslogbefore 8.27.0-28.27.0-2
Debian:9rsyslogbefore 8.24.0-1+deb9u28.24.0-1+deb9u2
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslogbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-cryptobefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-debuginfobefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-docbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-elasticsearchbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-gnutlsbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-gssapibefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-kafkabefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-libdbibefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-mmauditbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-mmjsonparsebefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-mmkubernetesbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-mmnormalizebefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-mmsnmptrapdbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-mysqlbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-pgsqlbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-relpbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-snmpbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientrsyslog-udpspoofbefore 0:8.24.0-38.el70:8.24.0-38.el7
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorimgbasedbefore 0:1.1.9-0.1.el7ev0:1.1.9-0.1.el7ev
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorovirt-node-ngbefore 0:4.3.5-0.20190717.0.el7ev0:4.3.5-0.20190717.0.el7ev
Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorovirt-node-ng-nodectlbefore 0:4.3.5-0.20190717.0.el7ev0:4.3.5-0.20190717.0.el7ev

+13

Same product

rsyslog: all records

Other highest-scoring records for the same primary product.

  • CVE-2019-17042An issue was discovered in Rsyslog v8.1908.0.
    40Plan
  • CVE-2019-17041An issue was discovered in Rsyslog v8.1908.0.
    40Plan
  • CVE-2019-17040contrib/pmdb2diag/pmdb2diag.c in Rsyslog v8.1908.0 allows out-of-bounds access because the level length is mishandled.
    40Plan

Published before and after this one in the same product

  • ← EarlierCVE-2015-3243Jul 25, 2017 · rsyslog uses weak permissions for generating log files, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading files in /var/lo
    22Monitor
  • ← EarlierCVE-2017-12588Aug 6, 2017 · The zmq3 input and output modules in rsyslog before 8.28.0 interpreted description fields as format strings, possibly allowing a format stri
    40Plan
  • Later →CVE-2011-1488Nov 13, 2019 · A memory leak in rsyslog before 5.7.6 was found in the way deamon processed log messages are logged when $RepeatedMsgReduction was enabled.
    22Monitor

Remediation

Which version to upgrade to

Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.

Product / packageFixed versionSource
debian:rsyslog8.27.0-2 · Debian:12Package registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog0:8.24.0-41.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-crypto0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-debuginfo0:8.24.0-41.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-doc0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-elasticsearch0:8.24.0-41.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-gnutls0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-gssapi0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-kafka0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-libdbi0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-mmjsonparse0:8.24.0-41.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-mmnormalize0:8.24.0-41.el7_7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::hypervisorPackage registry (OSV)
red hat:rsyslog-relp0:8.24.0-38.el7 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::clientPackage registry (OSV)
suse:rsyslog8.24.0-3.19.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3Package 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.

No history yet (it accumulates with the daily EPSS job).

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 researchers

Finders, 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

  • Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
  • No account or password is required.
  • No user action is required.
  • No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.

If successful

Confidentiality
none
Integrity
none
Availability
high · the service can be disrupted
Attack vector
Network
Attack complexity
Low
Privileges required
None
User interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality impact
None
Integrity impact
None
Availability impact
High

Weakness class (CWE)

CWE-190 · Integer Overflow or Wraparound

CVSS vector

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

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.

ATT&CK techniques

—

Change log

  1. Fix✗ → ✓

For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →

References

Show all references (5 more)

Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.

All records