The bmexec_trans function in kwset.c in grep 2.19 through 2.21 allows local users to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds heap read and
The bmexec_trans function in kwset.c in grep 2.19 through 2.21 allows local users to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds heap read and crash) via crafted input when using the -F option.
- Published
- Feb 12, 2015
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 0.5% · 40th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
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Report tools
Action score
8
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 8 / 40 · 2.1 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 0 / 30 · 0.5%
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; 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 helpAffected systems
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- gnu grep2.19
- gnu grep2.20
- gnu grep2.21
- opensuse opensuse13.2
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | grep | before 2.20-4.1 | 2.20-4.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | grep | before 2.27-2.1 | 2.27-2.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | grep | before 0:2.20-3.el6 | 0:2.20-3.el6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | grep-debuginfo | before 0:2.20-3.el6 | 0:2.20-3.el6 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | grep | before 0:2.20-2.el7 | 0:2.20-2.el7 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | grep-debuginfo | before 0:2.20-2.el7 | 0:2.20-2.el7 |
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2012-5667Multiple integer overflows in GNU Grep before 2.11 might allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving a17Monitor
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:grep | 2.20-4.1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:grep | 2.27-2.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:grep | 0:2.20-3.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:grep-debuginfo | 0:2.20-3.el6 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | 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.
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
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- P · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- P
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P
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)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/grep.git/commit/?id=83a95bd8c8561875b948cadd417c653dbe7ef2e2
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2015-02/msg00037.html
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2015-1447.html
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2015/01/22/10
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/72281
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.