Description
archive_read_support_format_tar.c in libarchive before 2.2.4 does not properly compute the length of a certain buffer when processing a malformed pax extension header, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted (1) PAX or (2) TAR archive that triggers a buffer overflow.
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 | libarchive | 2.2.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libarchive | 2.2.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libarchive | 2.2.4-1 | — |
| Debian 4.0 | libarchive | 1.2.53-2etch1 | DSA-1455-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | bsdtar | 3.5.1-1.5 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10925-1 |
Advisories 2
- DSA-1455-1 libarchive Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10925-1 bsdtar-3.5.1-1.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- freebsd-libarchive-pax-bo(35405) vdb-entry
- ADV-2007-2521 vdb-entry
- DSA-1455 vendor-advisory
- FreeBSD-SA-07:05.libarchive vendor-advisory
- http://security.freebsd.org/patches/SA-07:05/libarchive.patch
- 26050 third-party-advisory
- 24885 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200708-03 vendor-advisory
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=432924
- 38092 vdb-entry
- http://people.freebsd.org/~kientzle/libarchive/
- 26062 third-party-advisory
- 26355 third-party-advisory
- 1018379 vdb-entry
- 28377 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2007:015 vendor-advisory