Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CFITSIO is a library used to read FITS astronomy images. In version 3.42, a malformed image can overflow stack memory when parsed, potentially allowing code execution. Risk matters where servers, pipelines, desktops, or scientific tools process untrusted FIT/FITS files.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for systems that process externally supplied scientific image files. The vulnerability has high impact and low attack complexity, but requires a vulnerable parser to open a crafted file. Internet-facing ingest workflows should be handled first.
Technical view
The issue is a stack-based buffer overflow in ffghtb in NASA CFITSIO 3.42. Attack vector is a specially crafted FIT image delivered to software that parses it. CVSS 3.0 is 8.8: network deliverable, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, and high CIA impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely where CFITSIO 3.42 is embedded in astronomy or scientific image tooling, especially ingest services accepting external FIT/FITS files. Evidence only names NASA CFITSIO 3.42; do not assume other products without inventory confirmation.
Exploitation context
The source bundle describes crafted images triggering overflow and possible code execution. It does not cite CISA KEV or active exploitation. Treat exploitation as plausible when untrusted FIT files are parsed, but current evidence here is insufficient to claim in-the-wild activity.
Researcher notes
Key constraints are version specificity and incomplete fix detail in the supplied bundle. The affected product evidence is NASA CFITSIO 3.42. Fedora and Gentoo advisories indicate downstream security handling, but this bundle does not provide exact fixed upstream versions.
Mitigation direction
- Identify all systems and applications using NASA CFITSIO 3.42.
- Apply vendor or distribution updates from NASA, Fedora, Gentoo, or package maintainers.
- Restrict or sandbox parsing of externally supplied FIT/FITS images.
- Avoid processing untrusted FIT files until updated or isolated.
- Monitor vendor advisories for exact fixed versions and backports.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed CFITSIO versions through software inventory or package metadata.
- Map applications, pipelines, and services that parse FIT/FITS files.
- Check whether any public upload, email, or workflow accepts FIT/FITS images.
- Verify vendor or distribution advisory coverage for each affected platform.
- Review logs for crashes during FIT/FITS parsing, without opening suspicious samples.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-3849 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 8.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
8.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- FEDORA-2019-3c1aed2aa9CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- GLSA-202101-24CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_GENTOO
- https://www.talosintelligence.com/vulnerability_reports/TALOS-2018-0531CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.