CVE-2015-0235
GHOST
Heap-based buffer overflow in the __nss_hostname_digits_dots function in glibc 2.2, and other 2.x versions before 2.18, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to the (1) gethostbyname or (2) gethostbyname2 function, aka "GHOST."
- CVSS
- 10.0Critical
- Exploited in the wild
- Not knownPublic exploit code; not in CISA KEV
- EPSS
- 94.6%chance of exploitation in the next 30 daystop 0.2% of scored CVEsFIRST score of 11 Nov 2026
- Fix
- Patch availablesee the advisories in the references
- Published
- 28 Jan 2015analysed here 12 Nov 2026
Summary
Triage
The summary, impact and action text on this page are written by our AI analysis pipeline, or taken from the NVD description when a CVE was imported from NVD. They are not the vendor's wording: check them against the sources. A longer AI executive summary and technical analysis are generated for signed-in accounts on the Max plan.
Affected products
Products named in our analysis
- gnu:glibc
- oracle:communications_application_session_controller
- oracle:communications_eagle_application_processor
- oracle:communications_eagle_lnp_application_processor
- oracle:communications_lsms
- oracle:communications_policy_management
- oracle:communications_session_border_controller
- oracle:communications_user_data_repository
- oracle:communications_webrtc_session_controller
- oracle:exalogic_infrastructure
- oracle:vm_virtualbox
- oracle:linux
- debian:debian_linux
- redhat:virtualization
- apple:mac_os_x
- ibm:pureapplication_system
- ibm:security_access_manager_for_enterprise_single_sign-on
- php:php
Fix and mitigation
WAF and other mitigations
Can a WAF block it? No. This is an out-of-bounds write, a memory-corruption bug. Generic WAF rules do not recognise the input that triggers it; only a rule written for this specific CVE can, and only if the triggering request has a recognisable shape.
Also consider: patch
Based on the weakness type only; no CVE-specific evidence yet. We check Cloudflare, AWS, Google Cloud Armor and Azure; for Akamai, Imperva, Fastly, F5, ask your vendor.
Remediation steps (AI-written)
Step-by-step remediation is generated for accounts on the Max plan, for CVEs that match a technology in their stack. Add this technology to your stack to see the fix checklist.
Exploitation evidence
- CISA KEV catalog
- Not listed as of our last sync.
- Public exploit code
- Yes: 2 on Exploit-DB · 2 Metasploit modules · 16 GitHub proofs of concept
Exploit-DB
- Exim - 'GHOST' glibc gethostbyname Buffer Overflow (Metasploit)remote, 18 Mar 2015, verified by Exploit-DB
- Exim ESMTP 4.80 - glibc gethostbyname Denial of Servicedos, 29 Jan 2015
Metasploit
- exploit/linux/smtp/exim_gethostbyname_bofexploit, rank great
- auxiliary/scanner/http/wordpress_ghost_scannerauxiliary, rank normal
GitHub proofs of concept
- aaronfay/CVE-2015-0235-test15 stars
- fser/ghost-checker6 stars
- makelinux/CVE-2015-0235-workaround6 stars
- arm13/ghost_exploit4 stars
and 12 more repositories
Listed so you can judge urgency, not as a recommendation to run anything. GitHub “proofs of concept” are unvetted: some are fake or carry malware. Exploit-DB marks the entries its staff verified.
Timeline
- 27 Jan 2015First public exploit or proof of concept
- 28 Jan 2015Published2 days later
- 6 Aug 2024CVE record last updated3,477 days (about 10 years) later
- 12 Nov 2026Analysed by vulneraibility.com828 days (about 2 years) later
CVSS vector
CVSS 2.0 · AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | NetworkReachable over the internet or any routable network. | Reachable over the internet or any routable network. |
Common questions
Is CVE-2015-0235 being exploited?
Not confirmed. CVE-2015-0235 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 95% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How severe is CVE-2015-0235?
CVE-2015-0235 is rated Critical with a CVSS score of 10.0. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.
Is there a patch for CVE-2015-0235?
Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2015-0235. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.
What does CVE-2015-0235 affect?
CVE-2015-0235 affects gnu:glibc, oracle:communications_application_session_controller, oracle:communications_eagle_application_processor, oracle:communications_eagle_lnp_application_processor, and 14 further products or versions. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.
Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.
References
50 references in the CVE record, grouped by the tags the record gives them.
Advisories (21)
- marc.info /?l=bugtraq&m=142296726407499&w=2
- secunia.com /advisories/62883
- secunia.com /advisories/62691
- lists.apple.com /archives/security-announce/2015/Oct/msg00005.html
- marc.info /?l=bugtraq&m=142722450701342&w=2
- secunia.com /advisories/62698
Show 15 more
- secunia.com /advisories/62640
- lists.apple.com /archives/security-announce/2015/Sep/msg00008.html
- secunia.com /advisories/62688
- secunia.com /advisories/62865
- marc.info /?l=bugtraq&m=142721102728110&w=2
- lists.apple.com /archives/security-announce/2015/Jun/msg00002.html
- secunia.com /advisories/62812
- secunia.com /advisories/62879
- marc.info /?l=bugtraq&m=142781412222323&w=2
- secunia.com /advisories/62871
- secunia.com /advisories/62690
- secunia.com /advisories/62692
- secunia.com /advisories/62681
- secunia.com /advisories/62667
- mandriva.com /security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:039
Other links (29)
- securityfocus.com /bid/72325
- www-01.ibm.com /support/docview.wss?uid=swg21696131
- oracle.com /technetwork/topics/security/cpujul2015-2367936.html
- packetstormsecurity.com /files/130974/Exim-GHOST-glibc-gethostbyname-Buffer-Overflow.html
- support.apple.com /HT205375
- seclists.org /oss-sec/2015/q1/269
Show 23 more
- websense.com /support/article/kbarticle/Vulnerabilities-resolved-in-TRITON-APX-Version-8-0
- securitytracker.com /id/1032909
- oracle.com /technetwork/security-advisory/cpujul2016-2881720.html
- bto.bluecoat.com /security-advisory/sa90
- www-01.ibm.com /support/docview.wss?uid=swg21696618
- www-01.ibm.com /support/docview.wss?uid=swg21696600
- idirect.net /Partners/~/media/Files/CVE/iDirect-Posted-Common-Vulnerabilities-and-Exposures.
- oracle.com /technetwork/topics/security/cpuoct2015-2367953.html
- sophos.com /en-us/support/knowledgebase/121879.aspx
- oracle.com /technetwork/topics/security/cpujan2016-2367955.html
- www-01.ibm.com /support/docview.wss?uid=swg21696243
- kc.mcafee.com /corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10100
- oracle.com /technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2016-2881722.html
- linux.oracle.com /errata/ELSA-2015-0090.html
- oracle.com /technetwork/topics/security/cpuapr2015-2365600.html
- oracle.com /technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html
- support.apple.com /HT205267
- help.ecostruxureit.com /display/public/UADCO8x/StruxureWare+Data+Center+Operation+Software+Vulnerabilit
- kb.juniper.net /InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10671
- www-01.ibm.com /support/docview.wss?uid=swg21696526
- h20564.www2.hpe.com /portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c04874668
- f-secure.com /en/web/labs_global/fsc-2015-1
- www-01.ibm.com /support/docview.wss?uid=swg21696602
Where the data on this page comes from
- CVE List (CVE.org): description, affected versions, references; CVE Terms of Use
- NVD: CVSS and CPE data
- FIRST EPSS: exploit probability and percentile
- Exploit-DB: published exploits
- Metasploit Framework: exploit and scanner modules
- PoC-in-GitHub: GitHub repositories that claim a proof of concept
Summary, impact and triage tags: written by our AI analysis pipeline from the sources above. Check them against the sources.
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