CVE-2018-5748: qemu/qemu_monitor.c in libvirt allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a large

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HIGH 7.5REMOTEWATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-5748 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting libvirt, debian linux, enterprise linux desktop. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

qemu/qemu_monitor.c in libvirt allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a large QEMU reply.

Why this priority

High severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	3.2% (top 12%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-400
Published	2018-01-25
Last modified	2026-06-17

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

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-01-25 16:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:00 UTCUpdated Record last modified

redhat libvirt MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0 · 9.0

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.

redhat enterprise linux desktop MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0 · 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

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 enterprise linux server MITIGATE

Affected: 6.0 · 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

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 enterprise linux server aus MITIGATE

Affected: 7.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.6

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 server eus MITIGATE

Affected: 7.5 · 7.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.5

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-2018-5748?

libvirt: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; enterprise linux desktop: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-5748 being exploited?

CVE-2018-5748 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-2018-5748 affect?

CVE-2018-5748 affects libvirt, debian linux, enterprise linux desktop. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). qemu/qemu_monitor.c in libvirt allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a large QEMU reply.

How urgent is CVE-2018-5748?

Priority 58/100. High severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities · QEMU vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2024-8235 MEDIUM 6.2 UPGRADE A flaw was found in libvirt
CVE-2024-2496 MEDIUM 5.0 UPGRADE MITIGATE A NULL pointer dereference flaw was found in the udevConnectListAllInterfaces() function in libvirt
CVE-2023-3750 MEDIUM 6.5 MITIGATE MITIGATE A flaw was found in libvirt
CVE-2023-2700 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE A vulnerability was found in libvirt
CVE-2022-0897 MEDIUM 4.3 UPGRADE MITIGATE A flaw was found in the libvirt nwfilter driver

References

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