Prior to 2.1.13 and 2.2.2-alpha, libevent has a use-after-free in buffer.c when evbuffer_add_buffer_reference
Affects libeventSource GCVE Database
Mentioned vulnerabilities
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.8 Medium · fixed in 2.1.8-stable-4ubuntu0.1~esm1 : update libevent when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 2.1.8-stable-4ubuntu0.1~esm1, 2.1.11-stable-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, 2.1.12-stable-1ubuntu0.1 +2
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:NExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 21 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Patches and advisories
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlibeventpkg:deb/ubuntu/libevent?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 24.04 LTSlibeventpkg:deb/ubuntu/libevent?arch=source&distro=nobleOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 22.04 LTSlibeventpkg:deb/ubuntu/libevent?arch=source&distro=jammyOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTSlibeventpkg:deb/ubuntu/libevent?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTSlibeventpkg:deb/ubuntu/libevent?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/bionicOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
Libevent is an event notification library. Prior to 2.1.13 and 2.2.2-alpha, libevent has a use-after-free in buffer.c when evbuffer_add_buffer_reference processes an output buffer whose out_total_len is zero. evbuffer_free_all_chains frees the initial empty chain without resetting outbuf->first, outbuf->last, or outbuf->last_with_datap, and APPEND_CHAIN_MULTICAST subsequently dereferences the dangling chain pointer. A caller that can drive this buffer state can cause memory corruption or a process crash. This issue is fixed in versions 2.1.13 and 2.2.2-alpha.