CVE-2018-1125: procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a stack buffer overflow in pgrep

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-1125?

procps-ng: upgrade to 3.3.15; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-1125 being exploited?

CVE-2018-1125 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2018-1125 affect?

CVE-2018-1125 affects procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a stack buffer overflow in pgrep. This vulnerability is mitigated by FORTIFY, as it involves strncat() to a stack-allocated string. When pgrep is compiled with FORTIFY (as on Red Hat Enterpri

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-1125?

Priority 61/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

This week

HIGH 7.5REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-1125 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a stack buffer overflow in pgrep. This vulnerability is mitigated by FORTIFY, as it involves strncat() to a stack-allocated string. When pgrep is compiled with FORTIFY (as on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Fedora), the impact is limited to a crash.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.9% (top 21%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-121, CWE-787
Published	2018-05-23
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: canonical · debian · opensuse · procps-ng project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-05-23 14:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

procps-ng project procps-ng UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.3.15

Fixed in: 3.3.15

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy procps-ng || rpm -q procps-ng || procps-ng --version

2. UPGRADE to 3.3.15 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade procps-ng

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade procps-ng

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 17.10 · 18.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

opensuse leap MITIGATE

Affected: 15.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 15.1

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2018-1125?

procps-ng: upgrade to 3.3.15; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-1125 being exploited?

CVE-2018-1125 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2018-1125 affect?

CVE-2018-1125 affects procps-ng, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a stack buffer overflow in pgrep. This vulnerability is mitigated by FORTIFY, as it involves strncat() to a stack-allocated string. When pgrep is compiled with FORTIFY (as on Red Hat Enterpri

How urgent is CVE-2018-1125?

Priority 61/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities · Red Hat Enterprise Linux vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2018-1126 MEDIUM 4.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to an incorrect integer size in proc/alloc.* leading to truncati
CVE-2018-1124 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to multiple integer overflows leading to a heap corruption in fi
CVE-2018-1123 LOW 3.9 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a denial of service in ps via mmap buffer overflow
CVE-2018-1122 HIGH 7.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to a local privilege escalation in top

References

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