CVE-2018-7053: An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.7 and 1.1.x before 1.1.1

Q: How do I fix CVE-2018-7053?

irssi: upgrade to 1.0.7; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2018-7053 being exploited?

CVE-2018-7053 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-2018-7053 affect?

CVE-2018-7053 affects irssi, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.7 and 1.1.x before 1.1.1. There is a use-after-free when SASL messages are received in an unexpected order.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2018-7053?

Priority 65/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2018-7053 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting irssi, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.7 and 1.1.x before 1.1.1. There is a use-after-free when SASL messages are received in an unexpected order.

Why this priority

Critical severity
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	2.4% (top 16%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-416
Published	2018-02-15
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: canonical · debian · irssi

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2018-02-15 20:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

irssi irssi UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.0.7 · 1.1.0

Fixed in: 1.0.7

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 1.0.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade irssi

Note

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

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.0

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.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 14.04 · 16.04 · 17.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 14.04

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.

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-2018-7053?

irssi: upgrade to 1.0.7; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2018-7053 being exploited?

CVE-2018-7053 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-2018-7053 affect?

CVE-2018-7053 affects irssi, debian linux, ubuntu linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.7 and 1.1.x before 1.1.1. There is a use-after-free when SASL messages are received in an unexpected order.

How urgent is CVE-2018-7053?

Priority 65/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-29132 MEDIUM 5.3 UPGRADE Irssi 1.3.x and 1.4.x before 1.4.4 has a use-after-free because of use of a stale special collector reference
CVE-2019-5882 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE Irssi 1.1.x before 1.1.2 has a use after free when hidden lines are expired from the scroll buffer.
CVE-2019-15717 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE Irssi 1.2.x before 1.2.2 has a use-after-free if the IRC server sends a double CAP.
CVE-2019-13045 HIGH 8.1 UPGRADE Irssi before 1.0.8, 1.1.x before 1.1.3, and 1.2.x before 1.2.1, when SASL is enabled, has a use after free whe
CVE-2018-7054 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE An issue was discovered in Irssi before 1.0.7 and 1.1.x before 1.1.1

References

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