gnuplot: heap-based buffer overflow in df_generate_ascii_array_entry
Published Nov 23, 2018
7.8
HIGHCVSS 3.0
EPSS 1.78%
Description
An issue was discovered in datafile.c in Gnuplot 5.2.5. This issue allows an attacker to conduct a heap-based buffer overflow with an arbitrary amount of data in df_generate_ascii_array_entry. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must pass an overlong string as the right bound of the range argument that is passed to the plot function.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
gnuplot
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
gnuplot
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
gnuplot
Not affected
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
gnuplot
Not affected
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | gnuplot | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | gnuplot | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | gnuplot | Not affected | n/a |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | gnuplot | Not affected | n/a |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
Red Hat statement
Gnuplot allows for trivial execution of arbitrary commands from within gnuplot files by design. As such, gnuplot files should be considered as inherently dangerous and users should only execute files from trusted sources.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
1 other source (Red Hat) ▾
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L
AV:N/AC:M/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 1, 2026.
Score over time
2021–2026- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Percentile over time
- EPSS v1
- EPSS v5
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
Table of values (11 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 1.78% (0.01777) | 77.41th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Aug 23, 2026 | 2.78% (0.02776) | 85.19th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 1.55% (0.01553) | 71.83th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.27% (0.00267) | 48.20th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.10% (0.00099) | 42.85th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Nov 17, 2023 | 0.10% (0.00099) | 40.93th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.08% (0.00083) | 33.67th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 1.11% (0.01108) | 55.18th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 1.11% (0.01108) | 29.61th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 3, 2022 | 1.45% (0.01454) | 32.67th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Apr 14, 2021 | 1.45% (0.01454) | 0.00th | v1 |
References (10)
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00066.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-19490 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1656174 Issue Tracking
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00031.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00035.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19490
- https://sourceforge.net/p/gnuplot/bugs/2093/ x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory
- https://sourceforge.net/p/gnuplot/gnuplot-main/ci/d5020716834582b20a5e12cdd49f39ee4f9dd949/ x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/4541-1/ vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19490
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-04/msg00066.html | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2018-19490 | Vendor Advisory | |
| https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1656174 | Issue Tracking | |
| https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00031.html | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00035.html | mailing-listx_refsource_MLISTMailing ListThird Party Advisory | |
| https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-19490 | ||
| https://sourceforge.net/p/gnuplot/bugs/2093/ | x_refsource_MISCExploitThird Party Advisory | |
| https://sourceforge.net/p/gnuplot/gnuplot-main/ci/d5020716834582b20a5e12cdd49f39ee4f9dd949/ | x_refsource_MISCPatchThird Party Advisory | |
| https://usn.ubuntu.com/4541-1/ | vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTU | |
| https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-19490 |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.