Description
Buffer overflow in the readline function in util/texindex.c, as used by the (1) texi2dvi and (2) texindex commands, in texinfo 4.8 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a crafted Texinfo file.
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 | texinfo | 4.8.dfsg.1-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | texinfo | 4.8.dfsg.1-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | texinfo | 4.8.dfsg.1-4 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | texinfo | 4.7-2.2sarge2 | DSA-1219-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 4 | info +1 | 4.7-5.el4.2 | RHSA-2006:0727 |
| RHEL 3 | info +1 | 4.5-3.el3.1 | RHSA-2006:0727 |
| RHEL 2 | info +1 | 4.0b-3.el2.1 | RHSA-2006:0727 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2006:0727 Red Hat Security Advisory: texinfo security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1219-1 texinfo Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 22725 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:203 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2006:0727 vendor-advisory
- 22777 third-party-advisory
- USN-379-1 vendor-advisory
- 20959 vdb-entry
- 22995 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2006-4412 vdb-entry
- 20070404 VMSA-2007-0003 VMware ESX 3.0.1 and 3.0.0 server security updates mailing-list
- SUSE-SR:2006:028 vendor-advisory
- 23015 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-1267 vdb-entry
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-810
- GLSA-200611-16 vendor-advisory
- 23335 third-party-advisory
- 23112 third-party-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/esx-2559638-patch.html
- 2006-0063 vendor-advisory
- 24788 third-party-advisory
- http://cvs.savannah.gnu.org/viewcvs/texinfo/texinfo/util/texindex.c?r1=1.16&r2=1.17
- 20061127 rPSA-2006-0219-1 info install-info texinfo mailing-list
- 22898 third-party-advisory
- 22929 third-party-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:10893 vdb-entry signature
- texinfo-texindex-bo(30158) vdb-entry
- OpenPKG-SA-2006.034 vendor-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/support/vi3/doc/esx-1121906-patch.html
- 22798 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1219 vendor-advisory