Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in the read_rle16 function in imagetops in CUPS before 1.3.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an SGI image with malformed Run Length Encoded (RLE) data containing a small image and a large row count.
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 | cups | 1.3.8-1lenny2 | — |
| Debian 13 | cups | 1.3.8-1lenny2 | — |
| Debian 12 | cups | 1.3.8-1lenny2 | — |
| Debian 4.0 | cupsys | 1.2.7-4etch5 | DSA-1656-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | cups +3 | 1:1.2.4-11.18.el5_2.2 | RHSA-2008:0937 |
| RHEL 4 | cups +2 | 1:1.1.22-0.rc1.9.27.el4_7.1 | RHSA-2008:0937 |
| RHEL 3 | cups +2 | 1:1.1.17-13.3.54 | RHSA-2008:0937 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2008:0937 Red Hat Security Advisory: cups security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1656-1 cupsys - several vulnerabilities Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11464 vdb-entry signature
- 261088 vendor-advisory
- 32284 third-party-advisory
- MDVSA-2008:211 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2008-2782 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200812-11 vendor-advisory
- 32331 third-party-advisory
- 33111 third-party-advisory
- http://www.cups.org/str.php?L2918
- 32292 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2009-1568 vdb-entry
- 1021033 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2008-8844 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2008-8801 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SR:2008:021 vendor-advisory
- 33085 third-party-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-470.htm
- 31690 vdb-entry
- ADV-2008-3401 vdb-entry
- cups-readrle16-bo(45789) vdb-entry
- 32226 third-party-advisory
- DSA-1656 vendor-advisory
- USN-656-1 vendor-advisory
- 20081009 Multiple Vendor CUPS SGI imagetops Heap Overflow Vulnerability third-party-advisory
- http://www.cups.org/articles.php?L575
- 32084 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2008:0937 vendor-advisory
- 32316 third-party-advisory