---
title: "CVE-2005-3590\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2005-3590?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2005-3590

Publication date 10 April 2019

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2005-3590?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

The getgrouplist function in the GNU C library (glibc) before version
2.3.5, when invoked with a zero argument, writes to the passed pointer even
if the specified array size is zero, leading to a buffer overflow and
potentially allowing attackers to corrupt memory.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| eglibc | 18.10 cosmic | Not in release |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not affected |
| glibc | 18.10 cosmic | Not affected |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

9.8 · Critical

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | High |
  | Integrity impact | High |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 9.8 · Critical |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2005-3590)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-3590)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2005-3590)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2005-3590)

### Other references

* <https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=661>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-3590>