CVE-2018-16151: canonical ubuntu_linux
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2018-16151 is a high (CVSS 7.5) vulnerability in canonical ubuntu_linux. EPSS estimates a 1.89% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 79.1% of scored vulnerabilities.
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 8 · Related 6Timeline
- 26-09-2018PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 03-12-2025Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
In verify_emsa_pkcs1_signature() in gmp_rsa_public_key.c in the gmp plugin in strongSwan 4.x and 5.x before 5.7.0, the RSA implementation based on GMP does not reject excess data after the encoded algorithm OID during PKCS#1 v1.5 signature verification. Similar to the flaw in the same version of strongSwan regarding digestAlgorithm.parameters, a remote attacker can forge signatures when small public exponents are being used, which could lead to impersonation when only an RSA signature is used for IKEv2 authentication.
CVSS metrics
8 scores · 5 sources · 3 versions- NVDNIST7.5HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.5HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · AlpineEcosystem advisory · calculated7.5HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated7.5HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated7.5HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
EPSS trend
Probability
1.89%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
79%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
0.00 pp
From 1.89% on 18-09-2026
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
0 foundNo public exploits indexed.
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Debian2 products
- strongswan< 5.7.0-1
- debian_linuxEOL8.0 | 9.0
Alpine1 product
- strongswan≥ 4.0.0, < 5.7.0-r0 | ≥ 4.0.0, < 5.5.3-r2 | ≥ 4.0.0, < 5.6.3-r1 | ≥ 4.0.0, < 5.6.3-r2
Canonical1 product
- ubuntu_linuxEOL14.04 | 16.04 | 18.04
Strongswan1 product
- strongswan≥ 4.0.0, ≤ 4.6.4 | ≥ 5.0.0, < 5.7.0
Ubuntu1 product
- strongswan< 5.1.2-0ubuntu2.10 | < 5.3.5-1ubuntu3.7 | < 5.6.2-1ubuntu2.2
5 vendors · 6 products
References
14 links
- www.strongswan.org/blog/…X Refsource CONFIRM
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00032.htmlMailing ListX Refsource MLISTThird Party Advisory