Code execution via zero-length filename underflow
Published Jan 8, 2020 · Updated May 30, 2025
Stack out-of-bounds write in e2fsprogs e2fsck 1.43.3 through 1.45.4 allows local users to execute code via a crafted ext4 partition. During pass 3a directory rehashing, mutate_name subtracts from an unvalidated zero-length directory-entry name and writes before the new_name stack buffer. Exploitation requires control of an ext4 filesystem image and execution of e2fsck against it; successful exploitation runs code with the checker process privileges.
Summary
What happened
Stack out-of-bounds write in e2fsprogs e2fsck 1.43.3 through 1.45.4 allows local users to execute code via a crafted ext4 partition. During pass 3a directory rehashing, mutate_name subtracts from an unvalidated zero-length directory-entry name and writes before the new_name stack buffer. Exploitation requires control of an ext4 filesystem image and execution of e2fsck against it; successful exploitation runs code with the checker process privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2019-5188
- Published
- Jan 8, 2020
- Updated
- May 30, 2025
- Vendor
- E2fsprogs Project
- Product
- e2fsprogs
- Classifications
- CWE-787
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 8, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 30, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=1.43.3 - 1.45.4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo