CVE-2018-1126 in procps-ng
Summary
by MITRE
procps-ng before version 3.3.15 is vulnerable to an incorrect integer size in proc/alloc.* leading to truncation/integer overflow issues. This flaw is related to CVE-2018-1124.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-1126 affects procps-ng versions prior to 3.3.15 and represents a critical integer overflow condition that manifests within the proc/alloc.* files of the system monitoring utilities. This flaw is directly related to CVE-2018-1124, indicating a pattern of integer handling issues within the same codebase that undermines the integrity of memory allocation operations. The vulnerability stems from improper integer sizing that leads to truncation during arithmetic operations, creating potential opportunities for memory corruption and system instability. The affected software package procps-ng serves as a fundamental component for process and system monitoring on linux systems, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for system administrators and security professionals who rely on these utilities for system health monitoring and resource management.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves incorrect handling of integer types during memory allocation calculations within the proc/alloc.* source files. When the system processes memory allocation requests for process information structures, it encounters scenarios where integer overflow occurs due to insufficient bit width for the variables involved. This truncation issue typically manifests when dealing with large process identifiers or memory requirements that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the current integer type. The flaw allows for potential exploitation where attackers could manipulate process creation or memory allocation parameters to trigger the overflow condition, potentially leading to memory corruption that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or denial of service attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the integer arithmetic operations that determine buffer sizes and memory allocation limits, creating a pathway for malicious input to cause unexpected behavior in the system monitoring utilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-1126 extends beyond simple system instability to encompass potential security compromise of monitoring systems that rely on procps-ng utilities. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow attackers to cause the system monitoring tools to behave unpredictably, potentially leading to information disclosure or system crashes that affect the availability of critical monitoring services. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of process management and system monitoring capabilities, which could be particularly damaging in enterprise environments where system health monitoring is crucial for operational continuity. Given that procps-ng is a widely deployed package across various linux distributions, the potential impact of this vulnerability spans numerous system configurations and deployment scenarios, making it a significant concern for organizations maintaining system security postures. The integer overflow condition could also create opportunities for attackers to bypass security controls that depend on accurate process information reporting.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-1126 primarily focus on upgrading to procps-ng version 3.3.15 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the integer size and truncation issues within the proc/alloc.* files. System administrators should prioritize updating their procps-ng installations across all affected systems, particularly those running enterprise or server environments where monitoring reliability is paramount. Additional defensive measures include implementing monitoring for unusual process behavior or system resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing access controls and privilege separation for system monitoring utilities to limit potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow and underflow conditions, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack vectors that align with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and defense evasion. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of procps-ng versions to ensure compliance with security baselines and prevent exploitation of this and related integer overflow vulnerabilities.