Stack-based buffer overflow in the safe_fprintf function in tar/util.c in libarchive 3.2.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of serv
Stack-based buffer overflow in the safe_fprintf function in tar/util.c in libarchive 3.2.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a crafted non-printable multibyte character in a filename.
- Published
- Feb 15, 2017
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 5.3% · 92th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
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Report tools
Action score
32
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 30 / 40 · 7.5 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 2 / 30 · 5.3%
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
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| libarchive | libarchive | cpe:2.3:a:libarchive:libarchive |
| opensuse | leap | cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- libarchive libarchive3.2.1
- opensuse leap42.2
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | libarchive | before 3.2.1-5 | 3.2.1-5 |
| Debian:7 | libarchive | before 3.0.4-3+wheezy5 | 3.0.4-3+wheezy5 |
| Debian:8 | libarchive | before 3.1.2-11+deb8u4 | 3.1.2-11+deb8u4 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | bsdtar | before 3.2.2-2.1 | 3.2.2-2.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | libarchive | before 3.1.2-25.1 | 3.1.2-25.1 |
Same product
libarchive: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2024-26256Libarchive Remote Code Execution Vulnerability56Plan
- CVE-2022-36227In libarchive before 3.6.2, the software does not check for an error after calling calloc function that can return with a NULL pointer if th40Plan
- CVE-2016-1541Heap-based buffer overflow in the zip_read_mac_metadata function in archive_read_support_format_zip.c in libarchive before 3.2.0 allows remo38Monitor
- CVE-2024-37407Libarchive before 3.7.4 allows name out-of-bounds access when a ZIP archive has an empty-name file and mac-ext is enabled.36Monitor
- CVE-2020-9308archive_read_support_format_rar5.c in libarchive before 3.4.2 attempts to unpack a RAR5 file with an invalid or corrupted header (such as a 36Monitor
- CVE-2018-1000878libarchive version commit 416694915449219d505531b1096384f3237dd6cc onwards (release v3.1.0 onwards) contains a CWE-416: Use After Free vulne36Monitor
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:libarchive | 3.2.1-5 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| opensuse:bsdtar | 3.2.2-2.1 · openSUSE:Tumbleweed | Package registry (OSV) |
| suse:libarchive | 3.1.2-25.1 · SUSE:Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1 | 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
- Anyone who can reach it over the internet can trigger it.
- No account or password is required.
- No user action is required.
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- none
- Integrity
- none
- Availability
- high · the service can be disrupted
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- None
- Integrity impact
- None
- Availability impact
- High
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
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
- www.securitytracker.com/id/1037668
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2016-12/msg00027.html
- www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2016/10/16/11
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/93781
- blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/09/11/libarchive-bsdtar-stack-based-buffer-overflow-in-bsdtar_expand_char-util-c/
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1377926
- github.com/libarchive/libarchive/commit/e37b620fe8f14535d737e89a4dcabaed4517bf1a
- lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/11/msg00037.html
- security.gentoo.org/glsa/201701-03
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.