CVE-2018-5388
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer...
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- None
- Integrity
- None
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
CVE-2018-5388- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.0 Medium
AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:N/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-124, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
CVE-2018-5388- Weakness
- CWE-124
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-17158 No score
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
EUVD-2018-17158- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-fg62-299p-x79j
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer...
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
GHSA-fg62-299p-x79j- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-124, CWE-787
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVALPINE-CVE-2018-5388
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
ALPINE-CVE-2018-5388- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
CVE-2018-5388- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Show 8 moreShow less
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2018-5388
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2018-5388- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-5388
In stroke_socket.c in strongSwan before 5.6.3, a missing packet length check could allow a buffer underflow, which may lead to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-5388- CVSS 3.0
- 6.5 Medium
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2019:2594-1 No score
Security update for strongswan
This update for strongswan fixes the following issues:
Security issues fixed:
- CVE-2018-5388: Fixed a buffer underflow which may allow to a remote attacker with local user credentials to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket (bsc#1094462).
- CVE-2018-10811: Fixed a denial of service during the IKEv2 key derivation if the openssl plugin is used in FIPS mode and HMAC-MD5 is negotiated as PRF (bsc#1093536).
- CVE-2018-16151,CVE-2018-16152: Fixed multiple flaws in the gmp plugin which might lead to authorization bypass (bsc#1107874).
- CVE-2018-17540: Fixed an improper input validation in gmp plugin (bsc#1109845).
This update was imported from the SUSE:SLE-15:Update update project.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2019:2594-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2019:2598-1 No score
Security update for strongswan
This update for strongswan fixes the following issues:
Security issues fixed:
- CVE-2018-5388: Fixed a buffer underflow which may allow to a remote attacker with local user credentials to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket (bsc#1094462).
- CVE-2018-10811: Fixed a denial of service during the IKEv2 key derivation if the openssl plugin is used in FIPS mode and HMAC-MD5 is negotiated as PRF (bsc#1093536).
- CVE-2018-16151,CVE-2018-16152: Fixed multiple flaws in the gmp plugin which might lead to authorization bypass (bsc#1107874).
- CVE-2018-17540: Fixed an improper input validation in gmp plugin (bsc#1109845).
This update was imported from the SUSE:SLE-15:Update update project.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2019:2598-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVopenSUSE-SU-2024:11411-1 No score
strongswan-5.9.0-1.9 on GA media
These are all security issues fixed in the strongswan-5.9.0-1.9 package on the GA media of openSUSE Tumbleweed.
- Record
openSUSE-SU-2024:11411-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2019:3056-1 No score
Security update for strongswan
This update for strongswan fixes the following issues:
Security issues fixed:
- CVE-2018-5388: Fixed a buffer underflow which may allow to a remote attacker with local user credentials to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket (bsc#1094462).
- CVE-2018-10811: Fixed a denial of service during the IKEv2 key derivation if the openssl plugin is used in FIPS mode and HMAC-MD5 is negotiated as PRF (bsc#1093536).
- CVE-2018-16151,CVE-2018-16152: Fixed multiple flaws in the gmp plugin which might lead to authorization bypass (bsc#1107874).
- CVE-2018-17540: Fixed an improper input validation in gmp plugin (bsc#1109845).
- Record
SUSE-SU-2019:3056-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2019:3266-1 No score
Security update for strongswan
This update for strongswan provides the following fixes:
Security issues fixed:
- CVE-2018-5388: Fixed a buffer underflow which may allow to a remote attacker with local user credentials to resource exhaustion and denial of service while reading from the socket (bsc#1094462).
- CVE-2018-10811: Fixed a denial of service during the IKEv2 key derivation if the openssl plugin is used in FIPS mode and HMAC-MD5 is negotiated as PRF (bsc#1093536).
- CVE-2018-16151,CVE-2018-16152: Fixed multiple flaws in the gmp plugin which might lead to authorization bypass (bsc#1107874).
- CVE-2018-17540: Fixed an improper input validation in gmp plugin (bsc#1109845).
Other issues addressed:
- Fixed some client fails when the scep server URL is used with HTTPS protocol (bsc#1071853).
- Reject Diffie-Hellman key exchanges using primes smaller than 1024 bit.
- Handle unexpected informational message from SonicWall. (bsc#1009254)
- Record
SUSE-SU-2019:3266-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-3771-1 No score
strongswan vulnerabilities
It was discovered that strongSwan incorrectly handled IKEv2 key derivation. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to cause strongSwan to crash, resulting in a denial of service. (CVE-2018-10811)
Sze Yiu Chau discovered that strongSwan incorrectly handled parsing OIDs in the gmp plugin. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to bypass authorization. (CVE-2018-16151)
Sze Yiu Chau discovered that strongSwan incorrectly handled certain parameters fields in the gmp plugin. A remote attacker could possibly use this issue to bypass authorization. (CVE-2018-16152)
It was discovered that strongSwan incorrectly handled the stroke plugin. A local administrator could use this issue to cause a denial of service, or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2018-5388)
- Record
USN-3771-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
strongswanAlpine:v3.10 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.11 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.12 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.13 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.14 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.15 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.16 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.17 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.18 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.19 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
Show 41 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
strongswanAlpine:v3.20 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.21 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.22 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.23 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.24 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.7 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.8 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanAlpine:v3.9 |
before 5.6.3-r0 | 5.6.3-r0 |
strongswanDebian:12 |
before 5.6.3-1 | 5.6.3-1 |
strongswanDebian:13 |
before 5.6.3-1 | 5.6.3-1 |
strongswanDebian:14 |
before 5.6.3-1 | 5.6.3-1 |
strongswanDebian:8 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 5.2.1-6+deb8u6, plus listed versions 5.2.1-65.2.1-6+deb8u15.2.1-6+deb8u1~bpo70+15.2.1-6+deb8u25.2.1-6+deb8u2~bpo70+15.2.1-6+deb8u35.2.1-6+deb8u45.2.1-6+deb8u5 |
5.2.1-6+deb8u6 |
strongswanDebian:9 From an advisory covering 2 CVEs |
before 5.5.1-4+deb9u2, plus listed versions 5.5.1-45.5.1-4+deb9u1 |
5.5.1-4+deb9u2 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.6.0-4.3.2 | 5.6.0-4.3.2 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.6.0-4.3.2 | 5.6.0-4.3.2 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Package Hub 15 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.6.0-4.3.2 | 5.6.0-4.3.2 |
strongswanSUSE:OpenStack Cloud 7 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:OpenStack Cloud 8 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP1 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP2 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP1-LTSS From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-LTSS From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-LTSS From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-BCL From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanSUSE:Enterprise Storage 5 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.1.3-26.13.1 | 5.1.3-26.13.1 |
strongswanUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 5.1.2-0ubuntu2.10, plus listed versions 4.6.4-95.1.0-25.1.0-35.1.1-0ubuntu15.1.1-0ubuntu2 Show 20 moreShow less5.1.1-0ubuntu35.1.1-0ubuntu45.1.1-0ubuntu55.1.1-0ubuntu75.1.1-0ubuntu145.1.1-0ubuntu175.1.2~dr3+git20130120-0ubuntu25.1.2~dr3+git20130120-0ubuntu35.1.2~rc1-0ubuntu35.1.2~rc1-0ubuntu45.1.2~rc2-0ubuntu25.1.2-0ubuntu15.1.2-0ubuntu25.1.2-0ubuntu2.25.1.2-0ubuntu2.35.1.2-0ubuntu2.45.1.2-0ubuntu2.55.1.2-0ubuntu2.65.1.2-0ubuntu2.75.1.2-0ubuntu2.8 |
5.1.2-0ubuntu2.10 |
strongswanUbuntu:16.04:LTS |
before 5.3.5-1ubuntu3.7, plus listed versions 5.1.2-0ubuntu65.1.2-0ubuntu75.1.2-0ubuntu85.3.5-1ubuntu15.3.5-1ubuntu2 Show 6 moreShow less5.3.5-1ubuntu35.3.5-1ubuntu3.15.3.5-1ubuntu3.25.3.5-1ubuntu3.35.3.5-1ubuntu3.45.3.5-1ubuntu3.5 |
5.3.5-1ubuntu3.7 |
strongswanUbuntu:18.04:LTS |
before 5.6.2-1ubuntu2.2, plus listed versions 5.5.1-4ubuntu25.5.1-4ubuntu35.6.1-2ubuntu15.6.1-2ubuntu25.6.1-2ubuntu35.6.1-2ubuntu45.6.2-1ubuntu2 |
5.6.2-1ubuntu2.2 |
strongswanUbuntu:14.04:LTS From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 5.1.2-0ubuntu2.10, plus listed versions 4.6.4-95.1.0-25.1.0-35.1.1-0ubuntu15.1.1-0ubuntu2 Show 20 moreShow less5.1.1-0ubuntu35.1.1-0ubuntu45.1.1-0ubuntu55.1.1-0ubuntu75.1.1-0ubuntu145.1.1-0ubuntu175.1.2~dr3+git20130120-0ubuntu25.1.2~dr3+git20130120-0ubuntu35.1.2~rc1-0ubuntu35.1.2~rc1-0ubuntu45.1.2~rc2-0ubuntu25.1.2-0ubuntu15.1.2-0ubuntu25.1.2-0ubuntu2.25.1.2-0ubuntu2.35.1.2-0ubuntu2.45.1.2-0ubuntu2.55.1.2-0ubuntu2.65.1.2-0ubuntu2.75.1.2-0ubuntu2.8 |
5.1.2-0ubuntu2.10 |
strongswanUbuntu:16.04:LTS From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 5.3.5-1ubuntu3.7, plus listed versions 5.1.2-0ubuntu65.1.2-0ubuntu75.1.2-0ubuntu85.3.5-1ubuntu15.3.5-1ubuntu2 Show 6 moreShow less5.3.5-1ubuntu35.3.5-1ubuntu3.15.3.5-1ubuntu3.25.3.5-1ubuntu3.35.3.5-1ubuntu3.45.3.5-1ubuntu3.5 |
5.3.5-1ubuntu3.7 |
strongswanUbuntu:18.04:LTS From an advisory covering 4 CVEs |
before 5.6.2-1ubuntu2.2, plus listed versions 5.5.1-4ubuntu25.5.1-4ubuntu35.6.1-2ubuntu15.6.1-2ubuntu25.6.1-2ubuntu35.6.1-2ubuntu45.6.2-1ubuntu2 |
5.6.2-1ubuntu2.2 |
strongswanopenSUSE:Leap 15.0 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.6.0-lp150.3.3.1 | 5.6.0-lp150.3.3.1 |
strongswanopenSUSE:Leap 15.1 From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 5.6.0-lp151.4.3.1 | 5.6.0-lp151.4.3.1 |
strongswanopenSUSE:Tumbleweed From an advisory covering 7 CVEs |
before 5.9.0-1.9 | 5.9.0-1.9 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| affected, facts | ||
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2018-5388 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 6.5) in Strongswan, published May 31, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 3.92%, the 90th percentile. Fixed in strongswan 5.6.3-r0.
References
kb.cert.org/vuls/id/338343
security.gentoo.org/glsa/201811-16
git.strongswan.org?p=strongswan.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=0acd1ab4
securityfocus.com/bid/104263
usn.ubuntu.com/3771-1
debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4229
Show 35 moreShow less
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-11/msg00077.html
packetstormsecurity.com/files/172833/strongSwan-VPN-Charon-Server-Buffer-Overflow.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5388
github.com/advisories/GHSA-fg62-299p-x79j
security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2018-5388
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-5388
suse.com/support/update/announcement/2019/suse-su-20193056-1
bugzilla.suse.com/1093536
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-5388
strongswan.org/blog/2018/05/28/strongswan-vulnerability-(cve-2018-5388).html
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5388