---
title: "CVE-2018-20815\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-2018-20815?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2018-20815

Publication date 31 December 2018

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-2018-20815?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

In QEMU 3.1.0, load\_device\_tree in device\_tree.c calls the deprecated
load\_image function, which has a buffer overflow risk.

### From the Ubuntu Security Team

Kurtis Miller discovered that a buffer overflow existed in QEMU when
loading a device tree blob. A local attacker could use this to execute
arbitrary code.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| qemu | 21.04 hirsute | Fixed 1:3.1+dfsg-2ubuntu4 |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 1:3.1+dfsg-2ubuntu4 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 1:3.1+dfsg-2ubuntu4 |
| 19.10 eoan | Fixed 1:3.1+dfsg-2ubuntu4 |
| 19.04 disco | Fixed 1:3.1+dfsg-2ubuntu3.1 |
| 18.10 cosmic | Fixed 1:2.12+dfsg-3ubuntu8.7 |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 1:2.11+dfsg-1ubuntu7.13 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1:2.5+dfsg-5ubuntu10.38 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 2.0.0+dfsg-2ubuntu1.46 |
| qemu-kvm | 21.04 hirsute | Not in release |
| 20.10 groovy | Not in release |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Not in release |
| 19.10 eoan | Not in release |
| 19.04 disco | Not in release |
| 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 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-2018-20815?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 |
| --- | --- |
| qemu | * Upstream:   <https://git.qemu.org/?p=qemu.git;a=commit;h=da885fe1ee8b4589047484bd7fa05a4905b52b17> |

## 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-2018-20815)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20815)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2018-20815)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2018-20815)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-3978-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-3978-1)
+ QEMU update
+ 14 May 2019

### Other references

* <https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/03/27/1>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20815>