How severe is CVE-2018-20657?

CVE-2018-20657 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.

Is CVE-2018-20657 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (89th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2018-20657?

CVE-2018-20657 primarily affects Gnu Binutils. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2018-20657?

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

When was CVE-2018-20657 published?

CVE-2018-20657 was published on 2019-01-02 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2018-20657

CVE-2018-20657 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu Binutils with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5. 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-772.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 7.5)
CVSS v2: 5.0
EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (89th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-772
Affected product: Gnu Binutils
Published: 2019-01-02
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

The demangle_template function in cplus-dem.c in GNU libiberty, as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31.1, has a memory leak via a crafted string, leading to a denial of service (memory consumption), as demonstrated by cxxfilt, a related issue to CVE-2018-12698.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2018-20657?: The demangle_template function in cplus-dem.c in GNU libiberty, as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31.1, has a memory leak via a crafted string, leading to a denial of service (memory consumption), as demonstrated by cxxfilt, a related issue to CVE-2018-12698.
How severe is CVE-2018-20657?: CVE-2018-20657 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.5, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
Is CVE-2018-20657 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (89th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2018-20657?: CVE-2018-20657 primarily affects Gnu Binutils. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2018-20657?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2018-20657 published?: CVE-2018-20657 was published on 2019-01-02 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (3)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:binutils:2.31.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:traffix_signaling_delivery_controller:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:f5:traffix_signaling_delivery_controller:4.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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