CVE-2017-16879
Published: August 31, 2023Last modified: July 22, 2025
Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the _nc_write_entry function in tinfo/write_entry.c in ncurses 6.0 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted terminfo file, as demonstrated by tic.
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Base score | 7.8 |
| Attack Vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | REQUIRED |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity impact | HIGH |
| Availability impact | HIGH |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
Status
| Product | Release | Package | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaquita Linux | 23 LTS | ncurses | Not affected (6.3_p20221119-r1) |
| Stream | ncurses | Not affected (6.4_p20230722-r0) | |
| Hardened Containers | 23 LTS | ncurses | Not affected (6.3_p20221119-r1) |
| Stream | ncurses | Not affected (6.4_p20230722-r0) |
References
- http://invisible-island.net/ncurses/NEWS.html#t20171125
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/145045/GNU-ncurses-6.0-tic-Denial-Of-Service.html
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/r58af02e294bd07f487e2c64ffc0a29b837db5600e33b6e698b9d696b@%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4%40%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
- https://lists.apache.org/thread.html/rf4c02775860db415b4955778a131c2795223f61cb8c6a450893651e4@%3Cissues.bookkeeper.apache.org%3E
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201804-13
- https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/viewAlert.x?alertId=57695