CVE-2013-4788

CVE-2013-4788 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Glibc with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 11% places it in the 95th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.1)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 11% (95th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-20
• Affected product: Gnu Glibc
• Published: 2013-10-04
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The PTR_MANGLE implementation in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.4, 2.17, and earlier, and Embedded GLIBC (EGLIBC) does not initialize the random value for the pointer guard, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to control execution flow by leveraging a buffer-overflow vulnerability in an application and using the known zero value pointer guard to calculate a pointer address.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2013-4788?

The PTR_MANGLE implementation in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.4, 2.17, and earlier, and Embedded GLIBC (EGLIBC) does not initialize the random value for the pointer guard, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to control execution flow by leveraging a buffer-overflow vulnerability in an application and using the known zero value pointer guard to calculate a pointer address.

How severe is CVE-2013-4788?

CVE-2013-4788 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2013-4788 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 11% (95th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2013-4788?

CVE-2013-4788 primarily affects Gnu Glibc. In total, 28 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2013-4788?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2013-4788 published?

CVE-2013-4788 was published on 2013-10-04 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://hmarco.org/bugs/CVE-2013-4788.html
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/Sep/23
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:283
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:284
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/07/15/9
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/61183
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201503-04

Affected products (28)

• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.10.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.11.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.11.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.11.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:eglibc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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