CVE-2018-20033: A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in lmgrd and vendor daemon components of FlexNet Publisher version 11.16

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEUPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2018-20033 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting flexnet publisher, communications lsms. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in lmgrd and vendor daemon components of FlexNet Publisher version 11.16.1.0 and earlier could allow a remote attacker to corrupt the memory by allocating / deallocating memory, loading lmgrd or the vendor daemon and causing the heartbeat between lmgrd and the vendor daemon to stop. This would force the vendor daemon to shut down. No exploit of this vulnerability has been demonstrated.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

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	3.7% (top 10%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-770
Published	2019-02-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Flexera Software LLC · Vendor: flexera · oracle

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-02-25 20:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:52 UTCUpdated Record last modified

flexera flexnet publisher UPGRADE

Affected: <= 11.16.1.0

Fixed in: newer than 11.16.1.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy flexnet-publisher || rpm -q flexnet-publisher || flexnet-publisher --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 11.16.1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade flexnet-publisher

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade flexnet-publisher

Note

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

oracle communications lsms UPGRADE

Affected: >= 13.1 and <= 13.4

Fixed in: newer than 13.4

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 13.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy communications-lsms || rpm -q communications-lsms || communications-lsms --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 13.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade communications-lsms

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade communications-lsms

Note

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

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 13.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison communications-lsms sudo apt install communications-lsms=<VERSION_BEFORE_13.1> sudo apt-mark hold communications-lsms

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list communications-lsms sudo dnf downgrade communications-lsms-<VERSION_BEFORE_13.1> sudo dnf versionlock add communications-lsms

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.

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-2018-20033?

flexnet publisher: upgrade to newer than 11.16.1.0; communications lsms: upgrade to newer than 13.4. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-20033 being exploited?

CVE-2018-20033 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-2018-20033 affect?

CVE-2018-20033 affects flexnet publisher, communications lsms. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A Remote Code Execution vulnerability in lmgrd and vendor daemon components of FlexNet Publisher version 11.16.1.0 and earlier could allow a remote attacker to corrupt the memory by allocating / deallocating memory, loading lmgrd or the ven

How urgent is CVE-2018-20033?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2020-12081 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE An information disclosure vulnerability has been identified in FlexNet Publisher lmadmin.exe 11.14.0.2
CVE-2020-12080 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE A Denial of Service vulnerability has been identified in FlexNet Publisher's lmadmin.exe version 11.16.6
CVE-2019-8963 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE A Denial of Service (DoS) vulnerability was discovered in FlexNet Publisher's lmadmin 11.16.5, when doing a cr
CVE-2019-8961 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE A Denial of Service vulnerability related to stack exhaustion has been identified in FlexNet Publisher lmadmin
CVE-2019-8960 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE A Denial of Service vulnerability related to command handling has been identified in FlexNet Publisher lmadmin

References

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