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Full vulnerability report · 2019
CVE-2018-16301High confidence

The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile()

The Tcpdump Group · tcpdump

7.8HighCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Patch only the product branches with a verified fix

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 5 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Fix availability varies by product
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityHighOperational priority:High, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • EPSS is 0.63% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs The Tcpdump Group tcpdump and falls inside the recorded affected range.
  2. Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
  3. Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
  4. Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Mitigation target: Within 30 daysRemediation target: Within 180 days

This automated reassessment organises public evidence. It does not know asset exposure, business impact or control effectiveness and does not replace CVSS or a human risk decision.

Cross-source reconciliation

Remediation availability differs by product scope

Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 5 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

Alpine, Debian findings are scoped to the named distribution, release and source package. An absent finding does not mean a package is unaffected.

10 package states
Repository candidate not checked

A published vendor fix does not prove that a matching update is enabled and installable on a particular asset. Confirm the local package candidate before scheduling remediation.

Distribution releaseSource packageVendor stateFixed versionEvidence
Alpine v3.23v3.23 · mainlibpcapVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.9.1-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.23v3.23 · maintcpdumpVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.4.9.3-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.22v3.22 · mainlibpcapVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.9.1-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.22v3.22 · maintcpdumpVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.4.9.3-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.21v3.21 · mainlibpcapVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.1.9.1-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Alpine v3.21v3.21 · maintcpdumpVendor fix publishedAlpine records a security fix at this version. An absent entry does not mean the package is unaffected.4.9.3-r0Alpine Security Database ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian trixietrixie · sourcetcpdumpVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.4.99.0-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcetcpdumpVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.4.99.0-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcetcpdumpVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.4.99.0-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcetcpdumpVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.4.99.0-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Direct vendor intelligence

Authoritative vendor CSAF and VEX advisories

Structured product status and remediation from the issuing vendor. Product-state explanations are always visible; large lists can be searched or downloaded.

2 current
CVE-2018-16301 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 45 · interimSUSE Product Security TeamCVE-2018-16301
31 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

  • libpcap as component of SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0
  • libpcap-devel as component of SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0
  • libpcap1 as component of SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0
  • libpcap as component of SUSE Enterprise Storage 6
  • libpcap as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS
  • libpcap-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS
  • libpcap1 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS
  • libpcap as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
  • libpcap-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
  • libpcap1 as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1
  • libpcap as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS
  • libpcap-devel as component of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS
Summary
The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.
Remediation
To install this SUSE Security Update use the SUSE recommended installation methods like YaST online_update or "zypper patch".
CVE-2018-16301 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 3 · finalRed Hat Product Securitytcpdump: Buffer overflow in the -F command line argument parser
5 known affected

The vendor explicitly identifies these products as affected by this CVE.

  • tcpdump.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • tcpdump as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • tcpdump.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • tcpdump as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • tcpdump.src as a component of Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
Summary
The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.
Remediation
Fix deferred
Optional official sources

National CERT insights
?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.

Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.

Official European source

ENISA European Vulnerability Database

Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.

1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier

EUVD-2018-8152

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.

EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
0.0
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionPatch only the product branches with a verified fix

High technical severity; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance. Verified remediation exists for at least one product or source, but 5 structured product or package states remain unresolved. Apply remediation only to the exact product branch confirmed by its source.

Fix availability varies by product
01

What, why and how

The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.

What

The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.

Why

The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

What

The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.

Why

The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

How

An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor.

02

Exploit reality and attack path

CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.

Observed exploitation
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
No confirmed evidence

No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.

Public PoC / exploit material
?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.
None recorded

No exploit-tagged reference or CISA SSVC proof-of-concept state is currently recorded. Research may still exist outside the structured feeds.

Likely attack path
local access → Integer Overflow or Wraparound → cause the confidentiality, integrity or availability impact described by the vendor
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
None: unauthenticated exploitation is possible
User interaction
Required interaction required
Attack complexity
Low: no specialised conditions are recorded
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness
?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-190 ↗

CWE-190: Integer Overflow or Wraparound. The product performs a calculation that can produce an integer overflow or wraparound when the logic assumes that the resulting value will always be larger than the original value. This occurs when an integer value is incremented to a value that is too large to store in the associated representation. When this occurs, the value may become a very small or negative number.

CVSS vector
?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.

AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACLowAttack complexity: No specialised conditions are required beyond attacker-controlled input.PRNonePrivileges required: The attacker does not need an account or existing privileges.UIRequiredUser interaction: Another user must perform an action for exploitation to succeed.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CHighConfidentiality impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.IHighIntegrity impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
UnauthenticatedCWE-190
A

Official authority intelligence

Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.

ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2018-8152Official EUVD mapping

The command-line argument parser in tcpdump before 4.99.0 has a buffer overflow in tcpdump.c:read_infile(). To trigger this vulnerability the attacker needs to create a 4GB file on the local filesystem and to specify the file name as the value of the -F command-line argument of tcpdump.

Official EUVD record ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2019-AVI-620Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Apple

d?id=CVE-2018-14879 Référence CVE CVE-2018-14880 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14880 Référence CVE CVE-2018-14881 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14881 Référence CVE CVE-2018-14882 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14882 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16227 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16227 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16228 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16228 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16229 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16229 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16230 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16230 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16300 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16300 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16301 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16301 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16451 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16451 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16452 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16452 Référence CVE CVE-2019-13057 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-13057 Référence CVE CVE-2019-13565 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-13565 Référence CVE CVE-2019-15161 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15161 Référence CVE CVE-2019-15162 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15162 Référence CVE CVE-2019-15163 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-15163 Référence CVE CVE-2019-15164 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2018-016096tcpdump における古典的バッファオーバーフローの脆弱性

tcpdump には、古典的バッファオーバーフローの脆弱性が存在します。

Official advisory ↗
03

Patch and workaround

Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.

Status
?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Fix availability varies by product
Affected
Fixed
No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
Action
Use the product-specific evidence above. Patch only products with a verified fixed release, and keep every affected or under-investigation state without a matching fix in the remediation queue.
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. Limit untrusted access and use least privilege until authoritative guidance is available.
Official vendor articles1 stored document

Linked articles are downloaded and versioned as source evidence. A CVE mention or approved update relationship does not, by itself, verify a fix for every product branch.

04

Evidence and provenance

Published 3 Oct 2019 · Last source change 8 Oct 2026, 21:13 UTC · CWE-190 · Integer Overflow or Wraparound

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.2
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-09-01
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2018-8152
Product sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
CWE sourceCNA
NVD statusNVD modified after enrichment

Core structured fields are present and their contributing authorities are shown above.

Material change intelligence

What changed after publication

View recent updates ↗
  1. Remediation statusRemediation status changed from Awaiting fix to Mitigation available.
    Before
    Awaiting fix
    After
    Mitigation available
    SUSE Product Security Team ↗
  2. Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
    Before
    unspecified < 4.99.0 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    After
    tcpdump: unspecified < 4.99.0 · Fixed: No fixed version is explicitly recorded in the structured CVE data.
    CNA ↗
  3. ENISA EUVD mappingEUVD-2018-8152 was added to the official ENISA EUVD mapping for this CVE.
    Before
    not recorded
    After
    {"euvdId":"EUVD-2018-8152"}
    ENISA EUVD ↗
  4. SeveritySeverity changed from Unknown to High.
    Before
    Unknown
    After
    High
    NIST NVD ↗
  5. CVSS scoreCVSS score changed from not recorded to 7.8 (CVSS 3.1 · NIST NVD · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
    Before
    not recorded
    After
    7.8 (CVSS 3.1 · NIST NVD · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H)
    NIST NVD ↗
  6. Catalogue recordCVE added to the BlackTree catalogue.
    CNA ↗
Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
CVE published
Remediation guidance recorded
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2018-8152↗SUSE Product Security Team security advisory↗CVE authority or vendor reference↗Official CVE record (CNA and ADP data)↗NVD record↗
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.
Free version - for non-commercial use only.CVE-2018-16301 · cve.blacktree.nl