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Full vulnerability report · 2020
CVE-2018-18508High confidence

In Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.36.7 and before 3.41.1, a malformed signature can cause a crash due to a null dereference, resulting in a Denial of Service

Mozilla · NSS

6.5MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Scheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
R
Operational reassessment

Published severity in operational context

Open reassessment dashboard →
Published severityMediumOperational priority:Medium, unchanged from published severity.unchanged

Evidence used

  • No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
  • EPSS is 1.97% for the current model date.

Compensating controls

  • Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
  • Restrict the affected network interface to trusted sources where business-safe.
  • Monitor vendor guidance and exploitation sources for a material change.

Verification

  1. Confirm that the asset runs Mozilla NSS 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: As exposure requiresRemediation target: Within 365 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.

Distribution package intelligence

Release-specific package status

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

4 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
Debian trixietrixie · sourcenssVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:3.42.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian bookwormbookworm · sourcenssVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:3.42.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian forkyforky · sourcenssVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:3.42.1-1Debian Security Tracker ↗Source updated 23 Oct 2026
Debian sidsid · sourcenssVendor fix publishedDebian records a fixed source-package version for this release.2:3.42.1-1Debian 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.

1 current
CVE-2018-18508 · CSAF 2.0 · revision 53 · interimSUSE Product Security TeamCVE-2018-18508
62 known affected

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

  • libfreebl3 as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libfreebl3-32bit as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libfreebl3-hmac as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libfreebl3-hmac-32bit as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libsoftokn3 as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libsoftokn3-32bit as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libsoftokn3-hmac as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • libsoftokn3-hmac-32bit as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • mozilla-nss as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • mozilla-nss-32bit as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • mozilla-nss-certs as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
  • mozilla-nss-certs-32bit as component of HPE Helion OpenStack 8
Summary
In Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.36.7 and before 3.41.1, a malformed signature can cause a crash due to a null dereference, resulting in a Denial of Service.
Remediation
To install this SUSE Security Update use the SUSE recommended installation methods like YaST online_update or "zypper patch".
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-2018-10233

No EUVD known-exploited evidence

ENISA has published the identifier mapping but no EUVD description has been stored yet.

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
Not supplied in the stored EUVD record
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionScheduled

Medium technical severity with no CISA KEV confirmation; remediate through the normal risk-based patch cycle unless local exposure raises the priority.

Patch available
01

What, why and how

In Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.36.7 and before 3.41.1, a malformed signature can cause a crash due to a null dereference, resulting in a Denial of Service.

What

In Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.36.7 and before 3.41.1, a malformed signature can cause a crash due to a null dereference, resulting in a Denial of Service.

Why

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

What

In Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.36.7 and before 3.41.1, a malformed signature can cause a crash due to a null dereference, resulting in a Denial of Service.

Why

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

How

An attacker operating through a network path may attempt exploitation without authentication after a user interaction. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.

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
a network path → NULL Pointer Dereference → disrupt the affected service
Attack surface
Network
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-476 ↗

CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference. The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.

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

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

AVNetworkAttack vector: The vulnerable component can be reached over a network.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.CNoneConfidentiality impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
No specific living-off-the-land technique is confirmed in the structured sources. Monitor normal administration tools for activity inconsistent with the affected service's baseline.
NetworkUnauthenticatedDenial of serviceCWE-476
A

Official authority intelligence

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

Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20201028Security Bulletin 28 Oct 2020

The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 28 Oct 2020, published on 28 October 2020. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2024-AVI-1103Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits IBM

d?id=CVE-2018-12404 Référence CVE CVE-2018-14040 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14040 Référence CVE CVE-2018-14041 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14041 Référence CVE CVE-2018-14042 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-14042 Référence CVE CVE-2018-15209 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-15209 Référence CVE CVE-2018-16335 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-16335 Référence CVE CVE-2018-17000 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17000 Référence CVE CVE-2018-17100 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17100 Référence CVE CVE-2018-17101 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-17101 Référence CVE CVE-2018-18508 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-18508 Référence CVE CVE-2018-19210 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19210 Référence CVE CVE-2018-20676 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20676 Référence CVE CVE-2018-20677 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20677 Référence CVE CVE-2018-5784 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5784 Référence CVE CVE-2018-7456 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-7456 Référence CVE CVE-2019-10255 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-10255 Référence CVE CVE-2019-11358 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-11358 Référence CVE CVE-2019-11719 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-

Official advisory ↗
CERT-FR · French · CERTFR-2021-AVI-094Multiples vulnérabilités dans les produits Siemens

évrier 2021 https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-541017.pdf Bulletin de sécurité Siemens SSA-663999 du 9 février 2021 https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-663999.pdf Bulletin de sécurité Siemens SSA-686152 du 9 février 2021 https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-686152.pdf Bulletin de sécurité Siemens SSA-794542 du 9 février 2021 https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-794542.pdf Bulletin de sécurité Siemens SSA-944678 du 9 février 2021 https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-944678.pdf Référence CVE CVE-2018-12404 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12404 Référence CVE CVE-2018-18508 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-18508 Référence CVE CVE-2019-11745 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-11745 Référence CVE CVE-2019-17006 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17006 Référence CVE CVE-2019-17007 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-17007 Référence CVE CVE-2020-10048 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-10048 Référence CVE CVE-2020-13988 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-13988 Référence CVE CVE-2020-1763 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-1763 Référence CVE CVE-2020-25237 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-25237 Référence CVE CVE-2020-25238 https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CV

Official advisory ↗
JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2018-016512Network Security Services における NULL ポインタデリファレンスに関する脆弱性

Network Security Services (NSS) には、NULL ポインタデリファレンスに関する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.
Patch available
Affected
Fixed
An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Action
To install this SUSE Security Update use the SUSE recommended installation methods like YaST online_update or "zypper patch".
Workaround
No verified workaround is recorded. If business-safe, reduce exposure to the affected interface and allow only trusted sources until authoritative guidance is available.
04

Evidence and provenance

Published 22 Oct 2020 · Last source change 5 Aug 2024, 11:08 UTC · CWE-476 · NULL Pointer Dereference

CVE recordCVE.org · 5.1
CVSS sourceNIST NVD
EPSS source
?The date BlackTree first stored a score for this CVE from the daily FIRST EPSS feed.
FIRST · tracked since 2026-08-14
European sourceENISA EUVD · EUVD-2018-10233
Product sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
Remediation sourceVendor CSAF · SUSE Product Security Team
CWE sourceNIST NVD
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 ↗

No material field changes have been recorded since change tracking began. Routine source refreshes and cosmetic edits are intentionally excluded.

Material fields only · duplicate refreshes suppressed · history retained for the configured operational retention period
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-2018-18508 · cve.blacktree.nl