CVE-2019-14906: A flaw was found with the RHSA-2019:3950 erratum, where it did not fix the CVE-2019-13616 SDL vulnerability

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2019-14906 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting simple directmedia layer, enterprise linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

A flaw was found with the RHSA-2019:3950 erratum, where it did not fix the CVE-2019-13616 SDL vulnerability. This issue only affects Red Hat SDL packages, SDL versions through 1.2.15 and 2.x through 2.0.9 has a heap-based buffer overflow flaw while copying an existing surface into a new optimized one, due to a lack of validation while loading a BMP image, is possible. An application that uses SDL to parse untrusted input files may be vulnerable t

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	1.8% (top 22%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-125, CWE-787
Published	2020-01-07
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: libsdl · redhat

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2020-01-07 21:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 02:19 UTCUpdated Record last modified

libsdl simple directmedia layer UPGRADE

Affected: <= 1.2.15 · >= 2.0.0 and <= 2.0.9

Fixed in: newer than 2.0.9

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy simple-directmedia-layer || rpm -q simple-directmedia-layer || simple-directmedia-layer --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 2.0.9 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade simple-directmedia-layer

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade simple-directmedia-layer

Note

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

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison simple-directmedia-layer sudo apt install simple-directmedia-layer=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0.0> sudo apt-mark hold simple-directmedia-layer

3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list simple-directmedia-layer sudo dnf downgrade simple-directmedia-layer-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0.0> sudo dnf versionlock add simple-directmedia-layer

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.

redhat enterprise linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

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.

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-2019-14906?

simple directmedia layer: upgrade to newer than 2.0.9; enterprise linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2019-14906 being exploited?

CVE-2019-14906 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-2019-14906 affect?

CVE-2019-14906 affects simple directmedia layer, enterprise linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). A flaw was found with the RHSA-2019:3950 erratum, where it did not fix the CVE-2019-13616 SDL vulnerability. This issue only affects Red Hat SDL packages, SDL versions through 1.2.15 and 2.x through 2.0.9 has a heap-based buffer overflow fl

How urgent is CVE-2019-14906?

Priority 64/100. Critical severity; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

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References

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