CVE-2020-19187Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process crash via out-of-bounds capability read

Published Aug 22, 2023 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Heap buffer over-read in ncurses 6.1 allows remote attackers to crash infotocap by processing a crafted terminfo entry. The fmt_entry function copies an expanded source capability into a fixed stack buffer and dereferences the source pointer without first confirming that the allocated capability string still contains data. Exploitation requires user interaction to make infotocap process the crafted entry, and the demonstrated consequence is process termination under AddressSanitizer.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.75%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap buffer over-read in ncurses 6.1 allows remote attackers to crash infotocap by processing a crafted terminfo entry. The fmt_entry function copies an expanded source capability into a fixed stack buffer and dereferences the source pointer without first confirming that the allocated capability string still contains data. Exploitation requires user interaction to make infotocap process the crafted entry, and the demonstrated consequence is process termination under AddressSanitizer.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-19187
Published
Aug 22, 2023
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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

6.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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