---
title: "CVE-2018-20194\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-2018-20194?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2018-20194

Publication date 18 December 2018

Last updated 18 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.8 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2018-20194?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

There is a stack-based buffer underflow in the third instance of the
calculate\_gain function in libfaad/sbr\_hfadj.c in Freeware Advanced Audio
Decoder 2 (FAAD2) 2.8.8. A crafted input will lead to a denial of service
or possibly unspecified other impact because limiting the additional noise
energy level is mishandled for the G\_max <= G case.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

It was discovered that Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 incorrectly
validated user input when processing crafted AAC files. An attacker
could possibly use this issue to cause a denial of service or other
unspecified impact.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| faad2 | 26.04 LTS resolute | Not affected |
| 25.10 questing | Not affected |
| 25.04 plucky | Not affected |
| 24.10 oracular | Not affected |
| 24.04 LTS noble | Not affected |
| 23.10 mantic | Not affected |
| 23.04 lunar | Not affected |
| 22.10 kinetic | Not affected |
| 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Not affected |
| 21.04 hirsute | Not affected |
| 20.10 groovy | Not affected |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not affected |
| 19.10 eoan | Not affected |
| 19.04 disco | Ignored end of life |
| 18.10 cosmic | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Vulnerable |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Vulnerable |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.7-8+deb8u3build0.14.04.1~esm1  Ubuntu Pro |

---

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

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## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.8 · High

* Base metrics

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

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.8 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

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

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2018-20194)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20194)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2018-20194)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-20194)

### Other references

* <https://github.com/knik0/faad2/issues/21>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20194>