Root code execution via off-by-one NUL write
Published Jun 16, 2024 · Updated Nov 3, 2025
Heap-based buffer overflow in Netatalk 2.0.0 through 2.4.0, 3.0.0 through 3.1.18, and 3.2.0 allows remote attackers to execute code. FPLoginExt's PAM ClearTxt login path accepts an attacker-controlled length and writes a NUL at ibuf[PASSWDLEN], one byte beyond the heap buffer. The afpd service must include PAM support and enable uams_clrtxt.so or uams_pam.so; successful exploitation runs code as root.
Summary
What happened
Heap-based buffer overflow in Netatalk 2.0.0 through 2.4.0, 3.0.0 through 3.1.18, and 3.2.0 allows remote attackers to execute code. FPLoginExt's PAM ClearTxt login path accepts an attacker-controlled length and writes a NUL at ibuf[PASSWDLEN], one byte beyond the heap buffer. The afpd service must include PAM support and enable uams_clrtxt.so or uams_pam.so; successful exploitation runs code as root.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2024-38439
- Published
- Jun 16, 2024
- Updated
- Nov 3, 2025
- Vendor
- Netatalk
- Product
- Netatalk
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 16, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=2.0.0 <2.4.1
- Affected versionversion=3.0.0 <3.1.19
- Affected versionversion=3.2.0
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.
Public exploit references
- pocw.zip FPLoginExt proof of conceptproof of concept · demonstrated
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
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