Heap-based buffer overflow in the __nss_hostname_digits_dots function in glibc 2.2, and other 2.x versions before 2.18, allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to the (1) gethostbyname or (2) gethostbyname2 function, aka "GHOST."
CVE-2015-0235
This CVE was only ever scored under CVSS v2.0. NVD CVSS v2.0 base 10.0 — v2 rates that HIGH (v2 bands: LOW 0.0–3.9 / MEDIUM 4.0–6.9 / HIGH 7.0–10.0; v2 has no CRITICAL band). Vector AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. CVSS v2 is an older, coarser metric than v3.1/v4.0 (no Scope, no User Interaction, no Attack Requirements), so it is not directly comparable to a v3 or v4 score. NVD has never re-scored this record under v3. EPSS predicts 94.9% exploitation probability in the next 30 days, which is reflected in EG Risk but does not lift the v2 base. Confidence: LOW.
- High exploitation likelihood — EPSS 95%
- Public exploit code is available (Metasploit, Exploit-DB (verified), epss top5pct, epss high, public exploit)
A fix is available — apply it.
- CVSS v2.0 (legacy)
- 10.0HIGHNVD never assigned a CVSS v3 rating to this CVE
- EG Score
- 10.0(low)
- EG Risk
- 87(Track)EG Risk 87/100SSVC: Track
EG Risk is EchelonGraph's 0–100 priority score: it fuses intrinsic severity with real-world exploitation and automatability so you can rank equal-severity CVEs and fix the most dangerous first. Higher = act sooner. Distinct from the 0–10 EG Score (severity).
How it’s computedSeverity100% × 45%Exploitation95% × 40%Automatability30% × 15%Action: Routine — remediate on your standard cadence. - EPSS PROB
- 95%
- EPSS %ILE
- 100%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
January 28, 2015
Last Modified
May 6, 2026
References (180)
- secalert@redhathttp://blogs.sophos.com/2015/01/29/sophos-products-and-the-ghost-vulnerability-affecting-linux/
- secalert@redhathttp://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2015-0090.html
- secalert@redhathttp://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2015-0092.html
- secalert@redhathttp://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Jun/msg00002.html
- secalert@redhathttp://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Oct/msg00005.html
- secalert@redhathttp://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Sep/msg00008.html
- secalert@redhathttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142296726407499&w=2
- secalert@redhathttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142721102728110&w=2
- secalert@redhathttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142722450701342&w=2
- secalert@redhathttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142781412222323&w=2
- secalert@redhathttp://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=143145428124857&w=2
- secalert@redhathttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/130171/Exim-ESMTP-GHOST-Denial-Of-Service.html
- secalert@redhathttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/130768/EMC-Secure-Remote-Services-GHOST-SQL-Injection-Command-Injection.html
- secalert@redhathttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/130974/Exim-GHOST-glibc-gethostbyname-Buffer-Overflow.html
- secalert@redhathttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153278/WAGO-852-Industrial-Managed-Switch-Series-Code-Execution-Hardcoded-Credentials.html
Vendor Advisories for CVE-2015-0235(5)
These vendors published their own advisory mentioning this CVE — often with vendor-specific remediation steps + affected product lists not in NVD.
- RHSA-2015:0126Red Hat Product SecurityCritical
Red Hat Security Advisory: rhev-hypervisor6 security update
- RHSA-2015:0101Red Hat Product SecurityCritical
Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update
- RHSA-2015:0099Red Hat Product SecurityCritical
Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update
- RHSA-2015:0092Red Hat Product SecurityCritical
Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update
- RHSA-2015:0090Red Hat Product SecurityCritical
Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update
Patch Availability(6)
| Vendor / Ecosystem | Fixed in / Patch | Released | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| ubuntu | libc6 (2.15-0ubuntu10.10) @ precise | 2026-07-26 | ubuntu |
| redhat | rhev-hypervisor6-0:6.6-20150123.1.el6ev | 2015-02-04 | redhat |
| redhat | glibc-0:2.12-1.132.el6_5.5 | 2015-01-28 | redhat |
| redhat | glibc-0:2.3.4-2.57.el4.2 | 2015-01-28 | redhat |
| redhat | glibc-0:2.17-55.el7_0.5 | 2015-01-27 | redhat |
| redhat | glibc-0:2.5-123.el5_11.1 | 2015-01-27 | redhat |
Patches are aggregated from vendor advisories (Red Hat, Microsoft, Cisco, GitHub) and package ecosystems (OSV, GHSA). Multiple rows for the same upstream release have been deduplicated.
Weakness Classification(1)
MITRE Common Weakness Enumeration — the root-cause categories this CVE belongs to.
Additional Vendor Advisories
(1)
Vendors that published advisories for this CVE beyond the curated set above. Broader coverage but minimal per-row detail — click through for the original advisory.
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 4327× in last 7d / 4330× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
Showing the most recent 100 of 4,364 total refreshes for this CVE.
- 2026-07-26 14:50 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-26 13:52 UTCEG score recompute▲ 10.00
- 2026-07-26 01:32 UTCVendor advisory
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Publicly available exploits
(9 references)Working exploit code is in the public domain (2 Metasploit modules) (5 GitHub PoCs) (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- GitHub PoCarm13/ghost_exploitFirst seen Mar 28, 2015
CVE-2015-0235 EXIM ESTMP GHOST Glibc Gethostbyname() DoS Exploit/PoC
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-36421✓ verifiedFirst seen Mar 18, 2015
Exim - 'GHOST' glibc gethostbyname Buffer Overflow (Metasploit)
Open source ↗ - GitHub PoCmakelinux/CVE-2015-0235-workaroundFirst seen Feb 2, 2015
A shared library wrapper with additional checks for vulnerable functions gethostbyname2_r gethostbyname_r (GHOST vulnerability)
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-35951First seen Jan 29, 2015
Exim ESMTP 4.80 - glibc gethostbyname Denial of Service
Open source ↗ - GitHub PoCmikesplain/CVE-2015-0235-cookbookFirst seen Jan 27, 2015
A chef cookbook to test the GHOST vulnerability
Open source ↗ - GitHub PoCaaronfay/CVE-2015-0235-testFirst seen Jan 27, 2015
Ansible playbook to check vulnerability for CVE-2015-0235
Open source ↗ - GitHub PoCfser/ghost-checkerFirst seen Jan 27, 2015
Test wether you're exposed to ghost (CVE-2015-0235). All kudos go to Qualys Security
Open source ↗ - Metasploitexploit/linux/smtp/exim_gethostbyname_bof✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 27, 2015
Exim GHOST (glibc gethostbyname) Buffer Overflow
Open source ↗ - Metasploitauxiliary/scanner/http/wordpress_ghost_scanner✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 1, 2015
WordPress XMLRPC GHOST Vulnerability Scanner
Open source ↗
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- CVE-2001-0010EG 10.0EPSS p98HIGH
Same CWE
10 shownCWE-787
Frequently asked(4)
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Dependency Blast Radius
Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2015-0235
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