Description
Format string vulnerability in super for Linux allows local users to gain root privileges via a long command line argument.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | super | 3.18.0-3 | — |
| Debian 13 | super | 3.18.0-3 | — |
| Debian 12 | super | 3.18.0-3 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | super | 3.16.1-1.2 | DSA-139 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- William Deich Super 3.x - SysLog Format String EDB-21674 · local · Jul 31, 2002 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-139 super - format string vulnerability Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20020731 The SUPER Bug mailing-list
- super-syslog-format-string(9741) vdb-entry
- 20020730 The SUPER Bug mailing-list
- 5367 vdb-entry
- DSA-139 vendor-advisory