RPM 4.4.x through 4.9.x, probably before 4.9.1.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) and possibly exec
RPM 4.4.x through 4.9.x, probably before 4.9.1.2, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an rpm package with crafted headers and offsets that are not properly handled when a package is queried or installed, related to (1) the regionSwab function, (2) the headerLoad function, and (3) multiple functions in rpmio/rpmpgp.c.
- Published
- Dec 24, 2011
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 5.9% · 93th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-94
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Report tools
Action score
39
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 37 / 40 · 9.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 2 / 30 · 5.9%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| rpm | rpm | cpe:2.3:a:rpm:rpm |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- rpm rpmup to 4.9.1.1 inclusive
- rpm rpm4.4.2
- rpm rpm4.4.2.
- rpm rpm4.4.2.1
- rpm rpm4.4.2.2
- rpm rpm4.4.2.3
- rpm rpm4.6.0
- rpm rpm4.6.1
- rpm rpm4.7.0
- rpm rpm4.7.1
- rpm rpm4.7.2
- rpm rpm4.8.0
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | rpm | before 4.9.1.2-1 | 4.9.1.2-1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | popt | before 0:1.9.1-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:1.9.1-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | rpm | before 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | rpm-build | before 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | rpm-debuginfo | before 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | rpm-devel | before 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | rpm-libs | before 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | rpm-python | before 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 | 0:4.3.3-35_nonptl.el4 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | popt | before 0:1.10.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:1.10.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | rpm | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | rpm-debuginfo | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | rpm-libs | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | rpm-python | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | rpm-apidocs | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | rpm-build | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | rpm-devel | before 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-apidocs | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-build | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-cron | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-debuginfo | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-devel | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-libs | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | rpm-python | before 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 | 0:4.8.0-16.el6_1.1 |
+23
Same product
rpm: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2014-8118Integer overflow in RPM 4.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted CPIO header in the payload section 42Plan
- CVE-2013-6435Race condition in RPM 4.11.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPM file whose installation extract32Monitor
- CVE-2017-7500It was found that rpm did not properly handle RPM installations when a destination path was a symbolic link to a directory, possibly changin31Monitor
- CVE-2017-7501It was found that versions of rpm before 4.13.0.2 use temporary files with predictable names when installing an RPM.31Monitor
- CVE-2021-20271A flaw was found in RPM's signature check functionality when reading a package file.28Monitor
- CVE-2012-0815The headerVerifyInfo function in lib/header.c in RPM before 4.9.1.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibl28Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:rpm | 4.9.1.2-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:popt | 0:1.8.2-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm | 0:4.2.3-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-apidocs | 0:4.4.2.3-22.el5_7.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-build | 0:4.2.3-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-cron | 0:4.8.0-12.el6_0.1 · Red Hat:rhel_eus:6.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-debuginfo | 0:4.2.3-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-devel | 0:4.2.3-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-libs | 0:4.2.3-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:rpm-python | 0:4.2.3-35_nonptl · Red Hat:rhel_els:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-94 · Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')CVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for all 385,000+ vulnerabilities; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpChange log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1695-1
- kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10691
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-11/msg00000.html
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-11/msg00002.html
- rpm.org/gitweb?p=rpm.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=11a7e5d95a8ca8c7d4eaff179094afd8bb74fc3f
- rpm.org/gitweb?p=rpm.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=a48f0e20cbe2ababc88b2fc52fb7a281d6fc1656
- rpm.org/wiki/Releases/4.9.1.2#Security
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:143
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2011/09/27/3
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2011-1349.html
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=741606
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.