Out-of-bounds Write Affecting mawk package, versions *


Severity

Recommended
medium

Based on Ubuntu security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
0.07% (22nd percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-UBUNTU1604-MAWK-15877167
  • published5 Apr 2026
  • disclosed28 Mar 2026

Introduced: 28 Mar 2026

NewCVE-2017-20229  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-787  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

There is no fixed version for Ubuntu:16.04 mawk.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream mawk package and not the mawk package as distributed by Ubuntu. See How to fix? for Ubuntu:16.04 relevant fixed versions and status.

MAWK 1.3.3-17 and prior contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting inadequate boundary checks on user-supplied input. Attackers can craft malicious input that overflows the stack buffer and execute a return-oriented programming chain to spawn a shell with application privileges.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1