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flex — security advisory

Type: advisorySources: OSVAdvisory ID: UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293

An issue was discovered in the function mark_beginning_as_normal in nfa.c in flex 2.6.4. There is a stack exhaustion problem caused by the mark_beginning_as_normal function making recursive calls to itself in certain scenarios involving lots of '*' characters. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service.

Products
flex
Affected versions
2.5.39-8, 2.6.0-1, 2.6.0-11, 2.6.0-3, 2.6.0-4, 2.6.0-6, 2.6.0-7, 2.6.0-8, 2.6.0-9, 2.6.1-1.3, 2.6.4-1, 2.6.4-2, 2.6.4-3, 2.6.4-4, 2.6.4-5, 2.6.4-6, 2.6.4-6.2, 2.6.4-8.2, 2.6.4-8.2build1, 2.6.4-8.2build2, 2.6.4-8build1, 2.6.4-8build2
Fixed versions
Not specified
CVEs
CVE-2019-6293
Confirmed fixed CVEs
Not specified
Updated in this feed
31 Oct 2026, 00:36 UTC · Revision 1

Source evidence

UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293

core-osv · Original source

Published 15 Jan 2019, 00:29 UTC

An issue was discovered in the function mark_beginning_as_normal in nfa.c in flex 2.6.4. There is a stack exhaustion problem caused by the mark_beginning_as_normal function making recursive calls to itself in certain scenarios involving lots of '*' characters. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service.

osv:UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

flex

Fixed versions: Not specified

Complete source record
{
  "id": "6ce15eb5dee64f629f1cce8c671261b0241348c7dd8f90d28ab06e97daf18d28",
  "url": "https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293",
  "method": "structured",
  "payload": {
    "kind": "advisory",
    "title": "UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293",
    "summary": "An issue was discovered in the function mark_beginning_as_normal in nfa.c in flex 2.6.4. There is a stack exhaustion problem caused by the mark_beginning_as_normal function making recursive calls to itself in certain scenarios involving lots of '*' characters. Remote attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause a denial-of-service.",
    "evidence": "osv:UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293",
    "products": [
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/0/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.5.39-8",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-1",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-3",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-4",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-6",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-7",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-8",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-9",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.0-11",
            "evidence": "/affected/0/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/1/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.1-1.3",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-1",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-2",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-3",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-4",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-5",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-6",
            "evidence": "/affected/1/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/2/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-6.2",
            "evidence": "/affected/2/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/3/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8build1",
            "evidence": "/affected/3/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8build2",
            "evidence": "/affected/3/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/4/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8.2",
            "evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8.2build1",
            "evidence": "/affected/4/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/5/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8.2build1",
            "evidence": "/affected/5/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/6/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8.2build2",
            "evidence": "/affected/6/versions"
          }
        ]
      },
      {
        "name": {
          "value": "flex",
          "evidence": "/affected/7/package/name"
        },
        "prerequisites": [],
        "fixed_versions": [],
        "affected_versions": [
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8.2build1",
            "evidence": "/affected/7/versions"
          },
          {
            "value": "2.6.4-8.2build2",
            "evidence": "/affected/7/versions"
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "severity": "medium",
    "structured": {
      "id": "UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293",
      "aliases": [
        "UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293"
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "type": "CVSS_V3",
          "score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H"
        },
        {
          "type": "Ubuntu",
          "score": "low"
        }
      ],
      "affected": [
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=xenial",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:16.04:LTS"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.5.39-8",
            "2.6.0-1",
            "2.6.0-3",
            "2.6.0-4",
            "2.6.0-6",
            "2.6.0-7",
            "2.6.0-8",
            "2.6.0-9",
            "2.6.0-11"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "binaries": [
              {
                "binary_name": "flex",
                "binary_version": "2.6.0-11"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=bionic",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:18.04:LTS"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.1-1.3",
            "2.6.4-1",
            "2.6.4-2",
            "2.6.4-3",
            "2.6.4-4",
            "2.6.4-5",
            "2.6.4-6"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "binaries": [
              {
                "binary_name": "flex",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-6"
              },
              {
                "binary_name": "libfl2",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-6"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=focal",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:20.04:LTS"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.4-6.2"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "binaries": [
              {
                "binary_name": "flex",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-6.2"
              },
              {
                "binary_name": "libfl2",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-6.2"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=jammy",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:22.04:LTS"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.4-8build1",
            "2.6.4-8build2"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "binaries": [
              {
                "binary_name": "flex",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-8build2"
              },
              {
                "binary_name": "libfl2",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-8build2"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=noble",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:24.04:LTS"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.4-8.2",
            "2.6.4-8.2build1"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
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          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
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              {
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              },
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                "binary_name": "libfl2",
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            ]
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        },
        {
          "ranges": [
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              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
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              ]
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          ],
          "package": {
            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=questing",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:25.10"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.4-8.2build1"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
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              {
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              }
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        },
        {
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                {
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              ]
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          ],
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            "name": "flex",
            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=stonking",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:26.10"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.4-8.2build2"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "binaries": [
              {
                "binary_name": "flex",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-8.2build2"
              },
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                "binary_version": "2.6.4-8.2build2"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        {
          "ranges": [
            {
              "type": "ECOSYSTEM",
              "events": [
                {
                  "introduced": "0"
                }
              ]
            }
          ],
          "package": {
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            "purl": "pkg:deb/ubuntu/flex?arch=source&distro=resolute",
            "ecosystem": "Ubuntu:26.04:LTS"
          },
          "versions": [
            "2.6.4-8.2build1",
            "2.6.4-8.2build2"
          ],
          "database_specific": {
            "source": "https://github.com/canonical/ubuntu-security-notices/blob/main/osv/cve/2019/UBUNTU-CVE-2019-6293.json"
          },
          "ecosystem_specific": {
            "binaries": [
              {
                "binary_name": "flex",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-8.2build2"
              },
              {
                "binary_name": "libfl2",
                "binary_version": "2.6.4-8.2build2"
              }
            ]
          }
        }
      ],
      "modified": "2026-10-17T12:55:50.194128131Z",
      "provider": "osv",
      "upstream": [
        "CVE-2019-6293"
      ],
      "references": [
        "https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-6293",
        "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-6293"
      ]
    },
    "related_cves": [
      {
        "value": "CVE-2019-6293",
        "evidence": "/upstream"
      }
    ],
    "security_relevant": true,
    "severity_evidence": "/severity/0/score"
  },
  "source_id": "core-osv",
  "document_id": 354132,
  "published_at": "2019-01-15T00:29:00+00:00"
}