Description
Integer overflow in the "file" program 4.20, when running on 32-bit systems, as used in products including The Sleuth Kit, might allow user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large file that triggers an overflow that bypasses an assert() statement. NOTE: this issue is due to an incorrect patch for CVE-2007-1536.
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 | file | 4.21-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | file | 4.21-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | file | 4.21-1 | — |
| Debian 4.0 | file | 4.17-5etch2 | DSA-1343-2, DSA-1343-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | file | 4.12-1sarge2 | DSA-1343-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | file | 4.17-9.0.1.el5 | RHSA-2007:0391 |
| RHEL 4 | file | 4.10-3.0.2.el4 | RHSA-2007:0391 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | file | 5.40-1.14 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10755-1 |
Advisories 4
- RHSA-2007:0391 Red Hat Security Advisory: file security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1343-1 file Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-1343-2 file Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10755-1 file-5.40-1.14 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- DSA-1343 vendor-advisory
- 29179 third-party-advisory
- 2007-0024 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=241022
- 26415 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2007-290.htm
- ADV-2008-0924 vdb-entry
- 1018140 vdb-entry
- SUSE-SA:2007:040 vendor-advisory
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-1311
- 25931 third-party-advisory
- http://www.amavis.org/security/asa-2007-3.txt
- 25544 third-party-advisory
- 29420 third-party-advisory
- MDKSA-2007:114 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2007:0391 vendor-advisory
- 25578 third-party-advisory
- APPLE-SA-2008-03-18 vendor-advisory
- 20070524 FLEA-2007-0022-1: file mailing-list
- file-assert-code-execution(34731) vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-2071 vdb-entry
- 25394 third-party-advisory
- http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=307562
- 26294 third-party-advisory
- 26203 third-party-advisory
- GLSA-200705-25 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11012 vdb-entry signature
- 24146 vdb-entry
- 38498 vdb-entry
- USN-439-2 vendor-advisory