CVE-2015-1473: Buffer Overflow

Published Apr 8, 2015
·
Updated

The ADDW macro in stdio-common/vfscanf.c in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.21 does not properly consider data-type size during a risk-management decision for use of the alloca function, which might allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (segmentation violation) or overwrite memory locations beyond the stack boundary via a long line containing wide characters that are improperly handled in a wscanf call.

Affected Software

5 affected components
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=10.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=12.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.04
Canonical Ubuntu Linux=14.10
GNU glibc<=2.20

Event History

Apr 8, 2015
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:00 AM
Description

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2015-1473?

CVE-2015-1473 has a medium severity rating, primarily affecting systems built on vulnerable versions of glibc.

2

How do I fix CVE-2015-1473?

To address CVE-2015-1473, upgrade the GNU C Library to version 2.21 or later.

3

Which versions of Ubuntu are affected by CVE-2015-1473?

CVE-2015-1473 affects Ubuntu versions 10.04, 12.04, 14.04, and 14.10.

4

What type of attack does CVE-2015-1473 expose systems to?

CVE-2015-1473 could allow attackers to exploit a denial of service condition, such as segmentation violations.

5

Is CVE-2015-1473 specific to certain applications?

CVE-2015-1473 is not limited to specific applications but affects any application relying on vulnerable versions of glibc.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203