Description
man-db 2.3.12 and 2.3.18 to 2.4.1 uses certain user-controlled DEFINE directives from the ~/.manpath file, even when running setuid, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
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 | man-db | 2.4.1-13 | — |
| Debian 13 | man-db | 2.4.1-13 | — |
| Debian 12 | man-db | 2.4.1-13 | — |
| Debian 3.0 | man-db | 2.3.20-18.woody.2 | DSA-364 |
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
- man-db 2.4.1 - 'open_cat_stream()' Local uid=man EDB-75 · local · Aug 6, 2003 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DSA-364 man-db - buffer overflows, arbitrary command execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 8352 vdb-entry
- 20030806 man-db[v2.4.1-]: open_cat_stream() privileged call exploit. mailing-list
- mandb-opencatstream-gain-privileges(12848) vdb-entry
- DSA-364 vendor-advisory