Description
The ADDW macro in stdio-common/vfscanf.c in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.21 does not properly consider data-type size during memory allocation, which allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a long line containing wide characters that are improperly handled in a wscanf call.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | glibc | 2.19-15 | — |
| Debian 13 | glibc | 2.19-15 | — |
| Debian 12 | glibc | 2.19-15 | — |
| Debian 7 | eglibc | 2.13-38+deb7u8 | DSA-3169-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | eglibc | 2.11.3-4+deb6u5 | DLA-165-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | eglibc | 2.19-0ubuntu6.6 | USN-2519-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | nscd +7 | 2.17-105.el7 | RHSA-2015:2199 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7.1 EUS | nscd +7 | 2.17-79.ael7b_1 | RHSA-2015:2589 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | glibc | 2.19-20.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:0526-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | glibc | 2.19-20.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:0526-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | glibc | 2.24-2.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10154-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | nscd +6 | 2.17-105.0.1.el7 | ELSA-2015-2199 |
Advisories 9
- RHSA-2015:2589 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2015:2199 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- USN-2519-1 eglibc, glibc vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3169-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-165-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:0526-1 Security update for glibc SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10154-1 glibc-2.24-2.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- VDE-2019-013 WAGO: Multiple Vulnerabilities in industrial managed switches CERT@VDE · Jun 12, 2019
- ELSA-2015-2199 Moderate: glibc security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 24, 2015
References
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
- GLSA-201602-02 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- USN-2519-1 vendor-advisory
- 72428 vdb-entry
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=glibc.git%3Ba=commit%3Bh=5bd80bfe9ca0d955bfbbc002781bc7b01b6bcb06
- [libc-alpha] 20150206 The GNU C Library version 2.21 is now available mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20150203 Re: CVE request: heap buffer overflow in glibc swscanf mailing-list
- 20190612 SEC Consult SA-20190612-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in WAGO 852 Industrial Managed Switch Series mailing-list
- 20190613 SEC Consult SA-20190612-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in WAGO 852 Industrial Managed Switch Series mailing-list
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153278/WAGO-852-Industrial-Managed-Switch-Series-Code-Execution-Hardcoded-Credentials.html
- 20190904 SEC Consult SA-20190904-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco router series RV34X, RV26X and RV16X mailing-list
- 20190904 SEC Consult SA-20190904-0 :: Multiple vulnerabilities in Cisco router series RV34X, RV26X and RV16X mailing-list
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html