Local code execution via oversized command-line argument
Published Mar 28, 2026 · Updated Mar 28, 2026
Stack-based buffer overflow in Bochs 2.6-5 allows local users to execute code by passing an oversized command-line argument. bochs-bin processes the first argument without enforcing the destination stack buffer's limit, so 1,200 padding bytes overwrite EIP and admit a ROP chain. Local ability to launch the Linux binary is required; successful exploitation runs shell commands with the emulator process's privileges, while failed attempts crash it.
Summary
What happened
Stack-based buffer overflow in Bochs 2.6-5 allows local users to execute code by passing an oversized command-line argument. bochs-bin processes the first argument without enforcing the destination stack buffer's limit, so 1,200 padding bytes overwrite EIP and admit a ROP chain. Local ability to launch the Linux binary is required; successful exploitation runs shell commands with the emulator process's privileges, while failed attempts crash it.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2018-25220
- Published
- Mar 28, 2026
- Updated
- Mar 28, 2026
- Vendor
- Bochs
- Product
- Bochs
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1203
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Mar 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=2.6-5
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Public exploit references
- BOCHS 2.6-5 Local Buffer Overflowfunctional · demonstrated
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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