Description
Buffer overflow in the redir function in check_http.c in Nagios Plugins before 1.4.10, when running with the -f (follow) option, allows remote web servers to execute arbitrary code via Location header responses (redirects) with a large number of leading "L" characters.
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 5.0 | nagios-plugins | 1.4.8-2+lenny1 | DTSA-67-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | nagios-plugins | 1.4.5-1etch1 | DSA-1495-1 |
| Debian 3.1 | nagios-plugins | 1.4-6sarge1 | DSA-1495-1 |
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
- Nagios Plugins 1.4.2/1.4.9 - Location Header Remote Buffer Overflow EDB-30646 · dos · Jul 16, 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-1495-1 nagios-plugins - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DTSA-67-1 nagios-plugins - multiple stack based vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 27965 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2007-3394 vdb-entry
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=194178
- 27609 third-party-advisory
- 27124 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:067 vendor-advisory
- 28930 third-party-advisory
- 29862 third-party-advisory
- http://sourceforge.net/forum/forum.php?forum_id=740172
- http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1687867&group_id=29880&atid=397597
- FEDORA-2008-3098 vendor-advisory
- USN-532-1 vendor-advisory
- 25952 vdb-entry
- DSA-1495 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2007:025 vendor-advisory
- 27362 third-party-advisory
- http://sourceforge.net/tracker/index.php?func=detail&aid=1813346&group_id=29880&atid=397597
- GLSA-200711-11 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2008-3061 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2008-3146 vendor-advisory