CVE-2018-25220

Bochs 2.6-5 Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution

9.3 Critical

Bochs 2.6-5 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by supplying an oversized input string to the application. Attackers can craft a malicious payload with 1200 bytes of padding followed by a return-oriented programming chain to overwrite the instruction pointer and execute shell commands with application privileges.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: None

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

0.65%Up 0.6 points since Mar 28, 2026

What each source reports

CVE List Score used 9.3

Bochs 2.6-5 Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution

Record: CVE-2018-25220
CVSS 4.0: 9.3 CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-787
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2018-21698 9.3

Record: EUVD-2018-21698
CVSS 4.0: 9.3 CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
Updated: 2026-11-02

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-fx87-p9wh-85gp 9.3

Bochs 2.6-5 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute...

Record: GHSA-fx87-p9wh-85gp
CVSS 4.0: 9.3 CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-787
Updated: 2026-11-02

NVD 9.3

Record: CVE-2018-25220
CVSS 4.0: 9.3 CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-787
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2018-25220 9.8

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2018-25220
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2018-25220 9.3

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2018-25220
CVSS 4.0: 9.3 CriticalCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
CVSS 3.1: 9.8 CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`bochs` Ubuntu:16.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 2.6-2build12.6-52.6-5build1	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 2.6-5build12.6-5build2	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:20.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 2.6.9+dfsg-3build12.6.9+dfsg-42.6.9+dfsg-52.6.10+dfsg-22.6.11+dfsg-12.6.11+dfsg-1build1	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:22.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 2.6.11+dfsg-42.7+dfsg-2	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:24.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 2.7+dfsg-4build12.7+dfsg-4build42.7+dfsg-4build5	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:25.10	All versions, plus listed versions 2.8+dfsg-1	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:26.10	All versions, plus listed versions 2.8+dfsg-1	None known
`bochs` Ubuntu:26.04:LTS	All versions, plus listed versions 2.8+dfsg-1	None known

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 3, 2026	affected
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

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

In short

CVE-2018-25220 is a critical vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in Bochs, published March 28, 2026. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.65%, the 51st percentile. No source names a fixed version.