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CVE-2018-19211

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c...

5.5 MediumFix available

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges needed
None
User interaction
Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High

Exploit likelihood

0.86%Up 0.3 points since Apr 14, 2021
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 5.5

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
CVE-2018-19211
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.3 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
CVE-2018-19211
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2018-10920 No score

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
EUVD-2018-10920
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-g37h-6hrw-v99v 5.5

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c...

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
GHSA-g37h-6hrw-v99v
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness
CWE-476
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV 5.5

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
CVE-2018-19211
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2018-19211 5.5

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2018-19211
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
Show 5 moreShow less
OSVJLSEC-2026-442 5.5

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character * in name or alias field" detection.

Record
JLSEC-2026-442
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.3 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-19211 5.5

In ncurses 6.1, there is a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry in parse_entry.c that will lead to a denial of service attack. The product proceeds to the dereference code path even after a "dubious character `*' in name or alias field" detection.

Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2018-19211
CVSS 3.0
5.5 MediumCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:3967-1 No score

Security update for ncurses

This update for ncurses fixes the following issue:

Security issue fixed:

  • CVE-2018-19211: Fixed denial of service issue that was triggered by a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry (bsc#1115929).
Record
SUSE-SU-2018:3967-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVSUSE-SU-2018:4000-1 No score

Security update for ncurses

This update for ncurses fixes the following issues:

Security issue fixed:

  • CVE-2018-19211: Fixed denial of service issue that was triggered by a NULL pointer dereference at function _nc_parse_entry (bsc#1115929).

Non-security issue fixed:

  • Remove scree.xterm from terminfo data base as with this screen uses fallback TERM=screen (bsc#1103320).
Record
SUSE-SU-2018:4000-1
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVUSN-5477-1 No score

ncurses vulnerabilities

Hosein Askari discovered that ncurses was incorrectly performing memory management operations when dealing with long filenames while writing structures into the file system. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2017-16879)

Chung-Yi Lin discovered that ncurses was incorrectly handling access to invalid memory areas when parsing terminfo or termcap entries where the use-name had invalid syntax. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2018-19211)

It was discovered that ncurses was incorrectly performing bounds checks when processing invalid hashcodes. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2019-17594)

It was discovered that ncurses was incorrectly handling end-of-string characters when processing terminfo and termcap files. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2019-17595)

It was discovered that ncurses was incorrectly handling end-of-string characters when converting between termcap and terminfo formats. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or execute arbitrary code. (CVE-2021-39537)

It was discovered that ncurses was incorrectly performing bounds checks when dealing with corrupt terminfo data while reading a terminfo file. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or to expose sensitive information. (CVE-2022-29458)

Record
USN-5477-1
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
ncurses
Debian:12
before 6.1+20180210-3
6.1+20180210-3
ncurses
Debian:13
before 6.1+20180210-3
6.1+20180210-3
ncurses
Debian:14
before 6.1+20180210-3
6.1+20180210-3
Ncurses_jll
Julia
before 6.2.0+0
6.2.0+0
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP3
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP4
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP3
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP4
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
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Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4
before 5.9-61.1
5.9-61.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15
before 6.1-5.3.1
6.1-5.3.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15
before 6.1-5.3.1
6.1-5.3.1
ncurses
SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15
before 6.1-5.3.1
6.1-5.3.1
ncurses
Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS
before 5.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm2, plus listed versions
5.9+20130608-1ubuntu15.9+20131221-1ubuntu15.9+20140118-1ubuntu15.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm1
5.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm2
ncurses
Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS
before 6.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm2, plus listed versions
5.9+20150516-2ubuntu16.0+20151024-2ubuntu16.0+20151024-2ubuntu26.0+20160213-1ubuntu16.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm1
6.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm2
ncurses
Ubuntu:18.04:LTS
before 6.1-1ubuntu1.18.04, plus listed versions
6.0+20160625-1ubuntu16.0+20171125-1ubuntu16.1-1ubuntu1
6.1-1ubuntu1.18.04

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2018-19211 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) in Invisible-island Ncurses, published November 12, 2018. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.86%, the 58th percentile. Fixed in ncurses 6.1+20180210-3.

References

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