CVE-2018-18751: An issue was discovered in GNU gettext 0.19.8

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-18751 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting gettext, ubuntu linux, enterprise linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in GNU gettext 0.19.8. There is a double free in default_add_message in read-catalog.c, related to an invalid free in po_gram_parse in po-gram-gen.y, as demonstrated by lt-msgfmt.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 9%: 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	4.3% (top 9%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-415
Published	2018-10-29
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-10-29 12:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:47 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnu gettext DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.19.8

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.19.8

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.19.8 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison gettext sudo apt install gettext=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.19.8> sudo apt-mark hold gettext

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

dnf --showduplicates list gettext sudo dnf downgrade gettext-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.19.8> sudo dnf versionlock add gettext

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: 12.04 · 14.04 · 16.04 · 18.04 · 18.10

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.

redhat enterprise linux 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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora 46 · copyparty · FIXED · 1.20.26-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-8fbe18458e · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-8fbe18458e

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

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

Debian 12 · gettext · FIXED · 0.19.8.1-9

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade gettext dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' gettext)" ge "0.19.8.1-9" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · gettext · FIXED · 0.19.8.1-9

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade gettext dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' gettext)" ge "0.19.8.1-9" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

RHEL 7 · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.19.8.1-3.el7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:1138 rpm -q gettext

RHEL 7.6 Extended Update Support · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.19.8.1-3.el7_6

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:2846 rpm -q gettext

RHEL 7.7 Extended Update Support · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.19.8.1-3.el7_7

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2020:2485 rpm -q gettext

RHEL 8 · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.19.8.1-17.el8

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=RHSA-2019:3643 rpm -q gettext

RHEL 5 · gettext · NOT AFFECTED

Alpine 3.20 · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.20.1-r0

apk add --upgrade gettext apk info -v gettext

Alpine 3.21 · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.20.1-r0

apk add --upgrade gettext apk info -v gettext

Alpine 3.22 · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.20.1-r0

apk add --upgrade gettext apk info -v gettext

Alpine 3.23 · gettext · FIXED · gettext-0.20.1-r0

apk add --upgrade gettext apk info -v gettext

Amazon Linux 2 · see advisory · FIXED · ALAS2-2020-1477 · source

sudo yum update --advisory=ALAS2-2020-1477

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: github.com/CCCCCrash/POCs/tree/master/Bin/Tools-gettext-0.19.8.1/doublefree
Write-up: github.com/CCCCCrash/POCs/tree/master/Bin/Tools-gettext-0.19.8.1/heapcorruption

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-2018-18751?

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

Is CVE-2018-18751 being exploited?

CVE-2018-18751 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-2018-18751 affect?

CVE-2018-18751 affects gettext, ubuntu linux, enterprise linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). An issue was discovered in GNU gettext 0.19.8. There is a double free in default_add_message in read-catalog.c, related to an invalid free in po_gram_parse in po-gram-gen.y, as demonstrated by lt-msgfmt.

How urgent is CVE-2018-18751?

Priority 72/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

References

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