CVE-2018-3848: In the ffghbn function in NASA CFITSIO 3.42, specially crafted images parsed via the library can cause a stack

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-3848?

cfitsio: upgrade to 3.490; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-3848 being exploited?

CVE-2018-3848 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2018-3848 affect?

CVE-2018-3848 affects cfitsio, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). In the ffghbn function in NASA CFITSIO 3.42, specially crafted images parsed via the library can cause a stack-based buffer overflow overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker can deliver an FIT image to trigger this vulnerability and potentia

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-3848?

Priority 58/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

This month

HIGH 8.8UPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-3848 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 8.8) affecting cfitsio, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

In the ffghbn function in NASA CFITSIO 3.42, specially crafted images parsed via the library can cause a stack-based buffer overflow overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker can deliver an FIT image to trigger this vulnerability and potentially gain code execution.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

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	3.5% (top 11%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2018-04-16
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Talos · Vendor: fedoraproject · nasa

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-04-16 16:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:57 UTCUpdated Record last modified

nasa cfitsio UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.490

Fixed in: 3.490

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 3.490 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade cfitsio

Note

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

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 28

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 28

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-2018-3848?

cfitsio: upgrade to 3.490; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-3848 being exploited?

CVE-2018-3848 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-2018-3848 affect?

CVE-2018-3848 affects cfitsio, fedora. Severity is high (CVSS 8.8). In the ffghbn function in NASA CFITSIO 3.42, specially crafted images parsed via the library can cause a stack-based buffer overflow overwriting arbitrary data. An attacker can deliver an FIT image to trigger this vulnerability and potentia

How urgent is CVE-2018-3848?

Priority 58/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-111124 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE CFITSIO through 4.7.0 contains a heap-based out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the imcompress.c unquantize he
CVE-2026-111125 MEDIUM 6.1 UPGRADE CFITSIO through 4.7.0 contains a heap-based out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the HCOMPRESS tile decoder tha
CVE-2019-1010060 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE NASA CFITSIO prior to 3.43 is affected by: Buffer Overflow
CVE-2018-3849 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE In the ffghtb function in NASA CFITSIO 3.42, specially crafted images parsed via the library can cause a stack
CVE-2018-3847 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE Multiple exploitable buffer overflow vulnerabilities exist in image parsing functionality of the CFITSIO libra

References

← Back to latest CVEs