CVE-2018-20196: There is a stack-based buffer overflow in the third instance of the calculate_gain function in libfaad/sbr_hfa

This month

HIGH 7.8WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-20196 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting freeware advanced audio decoder 2, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

There is a stack-based buffer overflow in the third instance of the calculate_gain function in libfaad/sbr_hfadj.c in Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 (FAAD2) 2.8.8. A crafted input will lead to a denial of service or possibly unspecified other impact because the S_M array is mishandled.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.3% (top 30%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2018-12-18
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: audiocoding · debian

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-12-18 01:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:52 UTCUpdated Record last modified

audiocoding freeware advanced audio decoder 2 DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.8.8

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.8.8

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2 || rpm -q freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2 || freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2 --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.8.8 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2 sudo apt install freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.8.8> sudo apt-mark hold freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2

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

dnf --showduplicates list freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2 sudo dnf downgrade freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.8.8> sudo dnf versionlock add freeware-advanced-audio-decoder-2

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.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 10.0

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.

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-2018-20196?

freeware advanced audio decoder 2: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-20196 being exploited?

CVE-2018-20196 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-2018-20196 affect?

CVE-2018-20196 affects freeware advanced audio decoder 2, debian linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). There is a stack-based buffer overflow in the third instance of the calculate_gain function in libfaad/sbr_hfadj.c in Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 (FAAD2) 2.8.8. A crafted input will lead to a denial of service or possibly unspecified

How urgent is CVE-2018-20196?

Priority 55/100. High severity; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2019-6956 HIGH 7.1 UPGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 (FAAD2) 2.8.8
CVE-2019-15296 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 (FAAD2) 2.8.8
CVE-2018-20362 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE A NULL pointer dereference was discovered in ifilter_bank of libfaad/filtbank.c in Freeware Advanced Audio Dec
CVE-2018-20361 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE An invalid memory address dereference was discovered in the hf_assembly function of libfaad/sbr_hfadj.c in Fre
CVE-2018-20360 MEDIUM 5.5 UPGRADE MITIGATE An invalid memory address dereference was discovered in the sbr_process_channel function of libfaad/sbr_dec.c

References

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