Description
Buffer overflow in man and mandb (man-db) 2.4.3 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code via crafted arguments to the -H flag.
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 | 2.4.3-5 | — |
| Debian 13 | man-db | 2.4.3-5 | — |
| Debian 12 | man-db | 2.4.3-5 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | man-db | 2.4.2-21sarge1 | DSA-1278-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | man | 2.9.4-2.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11036-1 |
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 Command - -H Flag Local Buffer Overflow EDB-29822 · local · Apr 6, 2007 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DSA-1278-1 man-db - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11036-1 man-2.9.4-2.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 24828 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1278 vendor-advisory
- 24801 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2007:007 vendor-advisory
- 24995 third-party-advisory
- 23355 vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-1295 vdb-entry
- mandb-hflag-bo(33508) vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-1294 vdb-entry