CVE-2018-14553Network attack vector

Application crash via unallocated clone style array

Published Feb 11, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

NULL pointer dereference in libgd 2.1.0-rc2 through 2.2.5 allows attackers to crash applications through image cloning. In gdImageClone in src/gd.c, code copies style elements into dst->style before allocating that destination array through gdImageSetStyle, so a styled source image dereferences NULL. The sequence requires cloning an image after a style is attached, and PHP is affected only when linked against external libgd rather than its bundled copy.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability3.44%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in libgd 2.1.0-rc2 through 2.2.5 allows attackers to crash applications through image cloning. In gdImageClone in src/gd.c, code copies style elements into dst->style before allocating that destination array through gdImageSetStyle, so a styled source image dereferences NULL. The sequence requires cloning an image after a style is attached, and PHP is affected only when linked against external libgd rather than its bundled copy.

The record

CVE
CVE-2018-14553
Published
Feb 11, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.3SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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