---
title: "CVE-2015-8779\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-2015-8779?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2015-8779

Publication date 19 April 2016

Last updated 25 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**9.8 · Critical**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8779?format=md#impact-score)

Toggle side navigation

## Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the catopen function in the GNU C Library
(aka glibc or libc6) before 2.23 allows context-dependent attackers to
cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary
code via a long catalog name.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

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.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| eglibc | 17.04 zesty | Not in release |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not in release |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not in release |
| 15.10 wily | Not in release |
| 15.04 vivid | Not in release |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.19-0ubuntu6.8 |
| 12.04 LTS precise | Fixed 2.15-0ubuntu10.14 |
| glibc | 17.04 zesty | Not affected |
| 16.10 yakkety | Not affected |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Not affected |
| 15.10 wily | Fixed 2.21-0ubuntu4.2 |
| 15.04 vivid | Ignored end of life |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Not in release |
| 12.04 LTS precise | 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)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2015-8779?format=md#patch-details)

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| glibc | * Upstream:   <https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=glibc.git;h=0f58539030e436449f79189b6edab17d7479796e> |

## 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-2015-8779)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2015-8779)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2015-8779)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2015-8779)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-2985-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-2985-1)
+ GNU C Library vulnerabilities
+ 25 May 2016

### Other references

* <http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/01/20/1>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2015-8779>