CVE-2018-12699: finish_stab in stabs.c in GNU Binutils 2.30 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer o

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-12699 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting binutils, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

finish_stab in stabs.c in GNU Binutils 2.30 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact, as demonstrated by an out-of-bounds write of 8 bytes. This can occur during execution of objdump.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	4.5% (top 8%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2018-06-23
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · gnu

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-06-23 23:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:38 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnu binutils DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.30

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.30

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy binutils || rpm -q binutils || binutils --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.30 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison binutils sudo apt install binutils=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.30> sudo apt-mark hold binutils

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list binutils sudo dnf downgrade binutils-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.30> sudo dnf versionlock add binutils

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 16.04.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16.04.4

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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · root · FIXED · 6.40.04-6.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-deac340022 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-deac340022

Fedora ELN · man-pages · FIXED · 6.20-1.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-f1f5fb11b4 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-f1f5fb11b4

Ubuntu 22.04 · binutils · NOT AFFECTED

Ubuntu 20.04 · binutils · NOT AFFECTED

Ubuntu 24.04 · binutils · NOT AFFECTED

Ubuntu 24.10 · binutils · NOT AFFECTED

Ubuntu 25.04 · binutils · NOT AFFECTED

Debian 12 · binutils · FIXED · 2.32.51.20190707-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade binutils dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' binutils)" ge "2.32.51.20190707-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · binutils · FIXED · 2.32.51.20190707-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade binutils dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' binutils)" ge "2.32.51.20190707-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 8 · binutils · FIXED · binutils-2.30-125.el8_10

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2024:9689 rpm -q binutils

RHEL 5 · binutils · DEFERRED

RHEL 5 · binutils220 · DEFERRED

RHEL 6 · binutils · DEFERRED

RHEL 7 · binutils · DEFERRED

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Write-up: usn.ubuntu.com/4336-1/

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-2018-12699?

binutils: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-12699 being exploited?

CVE-2018-12699 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-2018-12699 affect?

CVE-2018-12699 affects binutils, ubuntu linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). finish_stab in stabs.c in GNU Binutils 2.30 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact, as demonstrated by an out-of-bounds write of 8 bytes. This can occur during ex

How urgent is CVE-2018-12699?

Priority 72/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-6846 HIGH 7.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE A flaw was found in binutils
CVE-2026-6844 MEDIUM 5.5 MITIGATE MITIGATE A flaw was found in the `readelf` utility of the binutils package
CVE-2026-6845 MEDIUM 5.0 MITIGATE MITIGATE A flaw was found in binutils, specifically within the `readelf` utility
CVE-2018-18700 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE An issue was discovered in cp-demangle.c in GNU libiberty, as distributed in GNU Binutils 2.31
CVE-2025-8224 LOW 3.3 DOWNGRADE A vulnerability has been found in GNU Binutils 2.44 and classified as problematic

References

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