CVE-2015-5277
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C...
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
7.2
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
CVE-2015-5277- CVSS 2.0
- 7.2 High
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
CVE-2015-5277- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2015-5256 No score
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
EUVD-2015-5256- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-hjm6-jvmc-534p No score
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C...
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
GHSA-hjm6-jvmc-534p- Weakness
- CWE-119
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV No score
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
CVE-2015-5277- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2015-5277 No score
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2015-5277- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2015-5277 No score
The get_contents function in nss_files/files-XXX.c in the Name Service Switch (NSS) in GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.20 might allow local users to cause a denial of service (heap corruption) or gain privileges via a long line in the NSS files database.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2015-5277- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUSN-2985-1 No score
eglibc, glibc vulnerabilities
Martin Carpenter discovered that pt_chown in the GNU C Library did not properly check permissions for tty files. A local attacker could use this to gain administrative privileges or expose sensitive information. (CVE-2013-2207, CVE-2016-2856)
Robin Hack discovered that the Name Service Switch (NSS) implementation in the GNU C Library did not properly manage its file descriptors. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (infinite loop). (CVE-2014-8121)
Joseph Myers discovered that the GNU C Library did not properly handle long arguments to functions returning a representation of Not a Number (NaN). An attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (stack exhaustion leading to an application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2014-9761)
Arjun Shankar discovered that in certain situations the nss_dns code in the GNU C Library did not properly account buffer sizes when passed an unaligned buffer. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2015-1781)
Sumit Bose and Lukas Slebodnik discovered that the Name Service Switch (NSS) implementation in the GNU C Library did not handle long lines in the files databases correctly. A local attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2015-5277)
Adam Nielsen discovered that the strftime function in the GNU C Library did not properly handle out-of-range argument data. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly expose sensitive information. (CVE-2015-8776)
Hector Marco and Ismael Ripoll discovered that the GNU C Library allowed the pointer-guarding protection mechanism to be disabled by honoring the LD_POINTER_GUARD environment variable across privilege boundaries. A local attacker could use this to exploit an existing vulnerability more easily. (CVE-2015-8777)
Szabolcs Nagy discovered that the hcreate functions in the GNU C Library did not properly check its size argument, leading to an integer overflow. An attacker could use to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2015-8778)
Maksymilian Arciemowicz discovered a stack-based buffer overflow in the catopen function in the GNU C Library when handling long catalog names. An attacker could use this to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2015-8779)
Florian Weimer discovered that the getnetbyname implementation in the GNU C Library did not properly handle long names passed as arguments. An attacker could use to cause a denial of service (stack exhaustion leading to an application crash). (CVE-2016-3075)
- Record
USN-2985-1- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
glibcDebian:12 |
before 2.21-1 | 2.21-1 |
glibcDebian:13 |
before 2.21-1 | 2.21-1 |
glibcDebian:14 |
before 2.21-1 | 2.21-1 |
glibcRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfo-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-headersRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-utilsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
Show 49 moreShow less
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
nscdRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-staticRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibcRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfo-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-headersRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-utilsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
nscdRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-staticRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibcRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfo-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-headersRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-utilsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
nscdRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-staticRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibcRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfoRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-debuginfo-commonRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-develRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-headersRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-utilsRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
nscdRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibc-staticRed Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation |
before 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 | 0:2.17-106.el7_2.1 |
glibcRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-commonRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-debuginfoRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-debuginfo-commonRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-develRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-headersRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-utilsRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
nscdRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibc-staticRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::computenode From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.el7_1 | 0:2.17-79.el7_1 |
glibcRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-commonRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-debuginfoRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-debuginfo-commonRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-develRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-headersRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-utilsRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
nscdRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
glibc-staticRed Hat:rhel_eus:7.1::server From an advisory covering 5 CVEs |
before 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 | 0:2.17-79.ael7b_1 |
eglibcUbuntu:14.04:LTS |
before 2.19-0ubuntu6.8, plus listed versions 2.17-93ubuntu42.18-0ubuntu12.18-0ubuntu22.18-0ubuntu42.18-0ubuntu5 Show 13 moreShow less2.18-0ubuntu62.18-0ubuntu72.19-0ubuntu22.19-0ubuntu32.19-0ubuntu42.19-0ubuntu52.19-0ubuntu62.19-0ubuntu6.12.19-0ubuntu6.32.19-0ubuntu6.42.19-0ubuntu6.52.19-0ubuntu6.62.19-0ubuntu6.7 |
2.19-0ubuntu6.8 |
eglibcUbuntu:14.04:LTS From an advisory covering 11 CVEs |
before 2.19-0ubuntu6.8, plus listed versions 2.17-93ubuntu42.18-0ubuntu12.18-0ubuntu22.18-0ubuntu42.18-0ubuntu5 Show 13 moreShow less2.18-0ubuntu62.18-0ubuntu72.19-0ubuntu22.19-0ubuntu32.19-0ubuntu42.19-0ubuntu52.19-0ubuntu62.19-0ubuntu6.12.19-0ubuntu6.32.19-0ubuntu6.42.19-0ubuntu6.52.19-0ubuntu6.62.19-0ubuntu6.7 |
2.19-0ubuntu6.8 |
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-2015-5277 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.2) in Gnu Glibc, published December 17, 2015. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.59%, the 48th percentile. Fixed in glibc 2.21-1.
References
ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2985-2
rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-2172.html
security.gentoo.org/glsa/201702-11
oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
securitytracker.com/id/1034196
sourceware.org/ml/libc-alpha/2014-09/msg00088.html
Show 45 moreShow less
securityfocus.com/bid/78092
sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=17079
ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2985-1
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1262914
seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Sep/7
seclists.org/bugtraq/2019/Sep/7
packetstormsecurity.com/files/154361/Cisco-Device-Hardcoded-Credentials-GNU-glibc-BusyBox.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-5277
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015:2172
access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015:2589
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-5277
github.com/advisories/GHSA-hjm6-jvmc-534p
security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2015-5277
access.redhat.com/security/updates/classification
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2015/rhsa-2015_2172.json
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-5277
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1187109
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1188235
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1199525
bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1209105
security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/advisories/2015/rhsa-2015_2589.json
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2013-7423
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-7423
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-7423
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-1472
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-1472
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1472
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-1473
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-1473
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1473
access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2015-1781
cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-1781
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-1781
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-5277
ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-2985-1
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2013-2207
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2014-8121
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2014-9761
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-1781
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8776
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8777
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8778
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8779
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-2856
ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2016-3075