The NetBSD qsort() function is recursive, and not randomized, an attacker can construct a pathological input array of N elements that causes qsort() to deterministically recurse N/4 times
Published Jun 19, 2017
9.8
CRITICALCVSS 3.0
EPSS 4.12%
Description
The NetBSD qsort() function is recursive, and not randomized, an attacker can construct a pathological input array of N elements that causes qsort() to deterministically recurse N/4 times. This allows attackers to consume arbitrary amounts of stack memory and manipulate stack memory to assist in arbitrary code execution attacks. This affects NetBSD 7.1 and possibly earlier versions.
Affected products
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 2, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (17 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | 4.12% (0.04123) | 90.49th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 4.12% (0.04123) | 89.46th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 3.98% (0.03981) | 87.32th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 5.42% (0.05417) | 83.20th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 3.98% (0.03981) | 87.63th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Jul 20, 2024 | 0.58% (0.00582) | 78.31th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 8, 2024 | 0.58% (0.00582) | 77.44th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| May 30, 2023 | 0.58% (0.00582) | 74.98th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.59% (0.00592) | 74.99th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 2.58% (0.02578) | 82.08th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 2.58% (0.02578) | 80.28th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Mar 16, 2022 | 2.58% (0.02578) | 62.47th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 2.51% (0.02509) | 58.60th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 1.46% (0.01458) | 32.87th | v1 |
| Jan 6, 2022 | 1.46% (0.01458) | 32.17th | v1 |
| Sep 1, 2021 | 1.46% (0.01458) | 72.29th | v1 |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 1.46% (0.01458) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (3)
- http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/src/lib/libc/stdlib/qsort.c?rev=1.23&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markup x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99255 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- https://www.qualys.com/2017/06/19/stack-clash/stack-clash.txt x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/src/lib/libc/stdlib/qsort.c?rev=1.23&content-type=text/x-cvsweb-markup | x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory | |
| http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99255 | vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry | |
| https://www.qualys.com/2017/06/19/stack-clash/stack-clash.txt | x_refsource_MISCThird Party Advisory |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.