CVE & CISA-KEV Catalog

CVE-2023-29491

HIGH

7.8

CVSS v3

Description

ncurses before 6.4 20230408, when used by a setuid application, allows local users to trigger security-relevant memory corruption via malformed data in a terminfo database file that is found in $HOME/.terminfo or reached via the TERMINFO or TERM environment variable.

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write

How to fix

Remediation Available

ncursesDebian

Fixed in:6.2+20201114-2+deb11u2CVE-2023-29491

Fixed in:6.4-3CVE-2023-29491

Fixed in:6.4-3CVE-2023-29491

Fixed in:6.4-3CVE-2023-29491

ncursesRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncursesRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-baseRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.2-10.20210508.el9RHSA-2023:6698

Fixed in:0:6.2-8.20210508.el9_2.1RHSA-2023:7361

ncurses-baseRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.2-10.20210508.el9RHSA-2023:6698

Fixed in:0:6.2-8.20210508.el9_2.1RHSA-2023:7361

ncurses-c++-libsRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-c++-libsRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-c++-libs-debuginfoRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-c++-libs-debuginfoRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-compat-libsRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-compat-libsRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-compat-libs-debuginfoRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-compat-libs-debuginfoRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-debuginfoRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-debuginfoRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-debugsourceRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-debugsourceRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-develRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-develRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-libsRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-libsRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-libs-debuginfoRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

ncurses-libs-debuginfoRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

ncurses-termRed Hat / RHEL

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.2-10.20210508.el9RHSA-2023:6698

Fixed in:0:6.2-8.20210508.el9_2.1RHSA-2023:7361

ncurses-termRocky

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_8.1RHSA-2023:5249

Fixed in:0:6.1-9.20180224.el8_6.1RHSA-2024:0416

Fixed in:0:6.2-8.20210508.el9_2.1RHSA-2023:7361

Fixed in:0:6.2-10.20210508.el9RHSA-2023:6698

lib32ncurses5Ubuntu

Fixed in:5.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm3USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm3USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.1-1ubuntu1.18.04.1USN-6099-1

lib32ncurses6Ubuntu

Fixed in:6.2-0ubuntu2.1USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.3-2ubuntu0.1USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.3+20220423-2ubuntu0.1USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.4-2ubuntu0.1USN-6099-1

lib32ncursesw5Ubuntu

Fixed in:5.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm3USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm3USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.1-1ubuntu1.18.04.1USN-6099-1

lib32ncursesw6Ubuntu

Fixed in:6.2-0ubuntu2.1USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.3-2ubuntu0.1USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.3+20220423-2ubuntu0.1USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.4-2ubuntu0.1USN-6099-1

lib32tinfo5Ubuntu

Fixed in:5.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm3USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm3USN-6099-1

Fixed in:6.1-1ubuntu1.18.04.1USN-6099-1

This vulnerability affects an unusually large number of packages. The highest-confidence fixes are shown above; the full list is longer. Check the referenced advisories for complete coverage.

TridentStack Control can deploy fixes like this automatically across your Windows, macOS, and Linux fleet. See how it works

Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.

CVSS v3 Vector

Exploitability

Attack VectorLocal

Attack ComplexityLow

Privileges RequiredLow

User InteractionNone

ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityHigh

IntegrityHigh

AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploit Intelligence

0.92%probability of exploitation in 30 days

58thpercentile

Moderate risk: more likely to be exploited than 58% of all known CVEs.

References

Patch2

Exploit1

openwall.com

Mailing List1

openwall.com

Other references8

Related Vulnerabilities

Other CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all

CVE	Severity	CVSS	EPSS	Exploited	Fix
CVE-2025-22457	Critical	9.0	100%	KEV + Ransom	Fix
CVE-2025-0282	Critical	9.0	100%	KEV + Ransom	-
CVE-2023-4863	High	8.8	100%	KEV	Fix
CVE-2015-3113	Critical	9.8	100%	KEV	Fix
CVE-2021-20038	Critical	9.8	100%	KEV + Ransom	-
CVE-2020-16040	Medium	6.5	100%	-	Fix

Common questions

How do I fix CVE-2023-29491?

Published advisories record a fix for 47 affected products. The "How to fix" section on this page lists the fixed version and source advisory for each one, so apply the entry matching what you actually run.

Is CVE-2023-29491 being actively exploited?

Not that we know of. CVE-2023-29491 is not in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Its EPSS score of 0.92% is the estimated probability that it will be exploited in the next 30 days. That is higher than 58% of all scored CVEs.

How severe is CVE-2023-29491?

CVE-2023-29491 has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.8, rated high. CVSS rates the technical impact if the vulnerability is exploited, not how likely that is, so weigh it alongside the exploit-prediction score when you decide what to patch first.

What does CVE-2023-29491 affect?

Published advisories record a fix for ncurses (Debian), ncurses (Rocky), ncurses (Red Hat / RHEL), ncurses-base (Rocky), and 43 more. Only products with a sourced advisory are listed, so treat this as what we can cite rather than a complete inventory.

Embed a live status badge for CVE-2023-29491

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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-07-27.