CVE-2015-8779

CVE-2015-8779 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Suse Linux Enterprise Debuginfo with a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Critical (CVSS 3.x base score 9.8)
• CVSS v2: 7.5
• EPSS exploit prediction: 6% (92nd percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Suse Linux Enterprise Debuginfo
• Published: 2016-04-19
• Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the catopen function in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.23 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long catalog name.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-8779?

Stack-based buffer overflow in the catopen function in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.23 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long catalog name.

How severe is CVE-2015-8779?

CVE-2015-8779 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 9.8, rated critical severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2015-8779 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 6% (92nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-8779?

CVE-2015-8779 primarily affects Suse Linux Enterprise Debuginfo. In total, 24 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-8779?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2015-8779 published?

CVE-2015-8779 was published on 2016-04-19 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2016-May/184626.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00036.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00037.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00038.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00039.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2016-02/msg00042.html
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html
• http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017-0680.html
• http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7
• http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3480
• http://www.debian.org/security/2016/dsa-3481
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/19/11
• http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/20/1
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/82244
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2985-1
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2985-2
• https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2017:1916
• https://seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201602-02
• https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-11
• https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=17905
• https://www.sourceware.org/ml/libc-alpha/2016-02/msg00502.html

Affected products (24)

• cpe:2.3:a:suse:linux_enterprise_debuginfo:11:sp2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:suse:linux_enterprise_debuginfo:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:suse:linux_enterprise_debuginfo:11:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:opensuse:13.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:11:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_desktop:12:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp2:*:*:ltss:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp3:*:*:*:vmware:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:11:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_server:12:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_software_development_kit:11:sp3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_software_development_kit:11:sp4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_software_development_kit:12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:linux_enterprise_software_development_kit:12:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:suse:suse_linux_enterprise_server:12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:14.04:*:*:*:lts:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:15.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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