Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in ntpq and ntpdc of NTP version 4.2.8p11 allows an attacker to achieve code execution or escalate to higher privileges via a long string as the argument for an IPv4 or IPv6 command-line parameter. NOTE: It is unclear whether there are any common situations in which ntpq or ntpdc is used with a command line from an untrusted source.
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 11 | ntp | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | ntp | 1:4.2.8p4+dfsg-3ubuntu5.10 | USN-4229-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | ntp | 1:4.2.8p10+dfsg-5ubuntu7.3+esm1 | USN-4229-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | ntp | 1:4.2.6.p5+dfsg-3ubuntu2.14.04.13+esm1 | USN-4229-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | ntp +4 | 4.2.6p5-29.el7 | RHSA-2019:2077 |
| RHEL 6 | ntp +3 | 4.2.6p5-15.el6_10 | RHSA-2018:3854 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7.6 EUS | ntp +4 | 4.2.6p5-28.el7_6.1 | RHSA-2020:1470 |
| RHEL 6.7 EUS | ntp +3 | 4.2.6p5-5.el6_7.6 | RHSA-2018:3853 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-4.3.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3386-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
| SLES 12 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-46.29.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3351-1 |
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP4 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3352-1 |
| SLES 11 SP3 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-48.21.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3356-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-2 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3352-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-48.21.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:3356-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | ntp | 4.2.8p12-64.8.2 | SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | ntp | 4.2.8p15-7.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11102-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | ntp +4 | 4.2.6p5-29.amzn2.0.1 | ALAS2-2019-1367 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | ntp +4 | 4.2.6p5-29.0.1.el7 | ELSA-2019-2077 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- ntp 4.2.8p11 - Local Buffer Overflow (PoC) EDB-44909 · dos · Jun 20, 2018
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 16
- USN-4229-1 ntp vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2020:1470 Red Hat Security Advisory: ntp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2019:2077 Red Hat Security Advisory: ntp security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2018:3853 Red Hat Security Advisory: ntp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2018:3854 Red Hat Security Advisory: ntp security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-4229-2 ntp vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3352-1 Security update for ntp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3356-1 Security update for ntp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3386-1 Security update for ntp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11102-1 ntp-4.2.8p15-7.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3342-1 Security update for ntp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3342-2 Security update for ntp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:3351-1 Security update for ntp SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- VDE-2022-032 AUMA: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Automation Runtime NTP Service CERT@VDE · Aug 9, 2022
- ALAS2-2019-1367 Low: ntp security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Nov 22, 2019
- ELSA-2019-2077 Low: ntp security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 13, 2019
References
- RHSA-2018:3854 vendor-advisory
- https://gist.github.com/fakhrizulkifli/9b58ed8e0354e8deee50b0eebd1c011f
- 104517 vdb-entry
- 44909 exploit
- RHSA-2018:3853 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201903-15 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2019:2077 vendor-advisory
- https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-hpesbux03962en_us
- USN-4229-1 vendor-advisory