CVE-2019-11371: BWA (aka Burrow-Wheeler Aligner) 0.7.17 r1198 has a Buffer Overflow via a long prefix that is mishandled in bn

This month

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2019-11371 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting burrow-wheeler aligner. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

BWA (aka Burrow-Wheeler Aligner) 0.7.17 r1198 has a Buffer Overflow via a long prefix that is mishandled in bns_fasta2bntseq and bns_dump at btnseq.c.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	1.6% (top 24%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787
Published	2019-04-20
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: burrow-wheeler aligner project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2019-04-20 18:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:12 UTCUpdated Record last modified

burrow-wheeler aligner project burrow-wheeler aligner DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.7.17 r1198

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.7.17

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy burrow-wheeler-aligner || rpm -q burrow-wheeler-aligner || burrow-wheeler-aligner --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.7.17 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison burrow-wheeler-aligner sudo apt install burrow-wheeler-aligner=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.7.17> sudo apt-mark hold burrow-wheeler-aligner

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

dnf --showduplicates list burrow-wheeler-aligner sudo dnf downgrade burrow-wheeler-aligner-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.7.17> sudo dnf versionlock add burrow-wheeler-aligner

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-2019-11371?

burrow-wheeler aligner: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2019-11371 being exploited?

CVE-2019-11371 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-2019-11371 affect?

CVE-2019-11371 affects burrow-wheeler aligner. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). BWA (aka Burrow-Wheeler Aligner) 0.7.17 r1198 has a Buffer Overflow via a long prefix that is mishandled in bns_fasta2bntseq and bns_dump at btnseq.c.

How urgent is CVE-2019-11371?

Priority 58/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

Related CVEs

CVE-2019-10269 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE BWA (aka Burrow-Wheeler Aligner) before 2019-01-23 has a stack-based buffer overflow in the bns_restore functi

References

← Back to latest CVEs