Description
The try_read_command function in memcached.c in memcached before 1.4.39 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation fault) via a request to add/set a key, which makes a comparison between signed and unsigned int and triggers a heap-based buffer over-read. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2016-8705.
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 | memcached | 1.5.0-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | memcached | 1.5.0-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | memcached | 1.5.0-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | memcached | 1.4.33-1+deb9u1 | DSA-4218-1 |
| Debian 8 | memcached | 1.4.21-1.1+deb8u2 | DSA-4218-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 7 | memcached | 1.4.13-0.2+deb7u3 | DLA-1033-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | memcached | 1.4.25-2ubuntu1.3 | USN-3588-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | memcached | 1.4.14-0ubuntu9.2 | USN-3588-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | memcached | 1.4.39-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0839-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | memcached | 1.4.39-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0839-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | memcached | 1.2.6-5.17.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1601-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSE Studio Onsite Runner 1.3 | memcached | 1.2.6-5.17.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1601-1 |
| SUSE Studio Onsite 1.3 | memcached | 1.2.6-5.17.4.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1601-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | memcached | 1.4.39-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0839-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | memcached | 1.4.39-4.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0839-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | memcached | 1.4.39-3.3.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:0778-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 6 | memcached | 1.4.39-3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:0807-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | memcached | 1.4.39-3.3.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:0778-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | memcached | 1.6.9-2.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11045-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.6 | memcached | 1.4.36-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | memcached | 1.4.33-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | memcached | 1.4.33-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.3 | memcached | 1.4.33-r1 | — |
Advisories 8
- DSA-4218-1 memcached - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-1033-1 memcached - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3588-1 memcached vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11045-1 memcached-1.6.9-2.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0778-1 Security update for memcached SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0807-1 Security update for memcached SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1601-1 Security update for memcached SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:0839-1 Security update for memcached SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
References
- USN-3588-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/memcached/memcached/wiki/ReleaseNotes1439
- 99874 vdb-entry
- DSA-4218 vendor-advisory
- https://www.twistlock.com/2017/07/13/cve-2017-9951-heap-overflow-memcached-server-1-4-38-twistlock-vulnerability-report/
- https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=memcached/ubGWrkmrr4E/nrm1SeVJAQAJ