CVE-2018-14681: An issue was discovered in kwajd_read_headers in mspack/kwajd.c in libmspack before 0.7alpha

This month

HIGH 8.8WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-14681 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting libmspack, cabextract, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in kwajd_read_headers in mspack/kwajd.c in libmspack before 0.7alpha. Bad KWAJ file header extensions could cause a one or two byte overwrite.

Why this priority

High severity
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	8.8 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	3.8% (top 10%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2018-07-28
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: cabextract · cabextract project · canonical · debian · redhat

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-07-28 23:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:41 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cabextract libmspack DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.0.20060920 alpha · 0.3 alpha · 0.4 alpha · 0.5 alpha · 0.6 alpha

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.0.20060920

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.0.20060920 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison libmspack sudo apt install libmspack=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.0.20060920> sudo apt-mark hold libmspack

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

dnf --showduplicates list libmspack sudo dnf downgrade libmspack-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.0.20060920> sudo dnf versionlock add libmspack

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.

cabextract project cabextract UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.5

Fixed in: newer than 1.5

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade cabextract

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade cabextract

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 · 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: 8.0 · 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

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.

redhat ansible tower DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.3

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ansible-tower || rpm -q ansible-tower || ansible-tower --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ansible-tower sudo apt install ansible-tower=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.3> sudo apt-mark hold ansible-tower

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

dnf --showduplicates list ansible-tower sudo dnf downgrade ansible-tower-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.3> sudo dnf versionlock add ansible-tower

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.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

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.

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-2018-14681?

libmspack: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; cabextract: upgrade to newer than 1.5; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-14681 being exploited?

CVE-2018-14681 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-2018-14681 affect?

CVE-2018-14681 affects libmspack, cabextract, ubuntu linux. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). An issue was discovered in kwajd_read_headers in mspack/kwajd.c in libmspack before 0.7alpha. Bad KWAJ file header extensions could cause a one or two byte overwrite.

How urgent is CVE-2018-14681?

Priority 58/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ansible vulnerabilities · Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2019-1010305 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE libmspack 0.9.1alpha is affected by: Buffer Overflow
CVE-2018-18586 MEDIUM 5.3 DOWNGRADE chmextract.c in the chmextract sample program, as distributed with libmspack before 0.8alpha, does not protect
CVE-2018-18585 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE chmd_read_headers in mspack/chmd.c in libmspack before 0.8alpha accepts a filename that has '\0' as its first
CVE-2018-18584 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE DOWNGRADE In mspack/cab.h in libmspack before 0.8alpha and cabextract before 1.8, the CAB block input buffer is one byte
CVE-2018-14682 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE UPGRADE An issue was discovered in mspack/chmd.c in libmspack before 0.7alpha

References

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