Description
The redirect implementation in curl and libcurl 5.11 through 7.19.3, when CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION is enabled, accepts arbitrary Location values, which might allow remote HTTP servers to (1) trigger arbitrary requests to intranet servers, (2) read or overwrite arbitrary files via a redirect to a file: URL, or (3) execute arbitrary commands via a redirect to an scp: URL.
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 | curl | 7.18.2-8.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | curl | 7.18.2-8.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | curl | 7.18.2-8.1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | curl | 7.18.2-8lenny2 | DSA-1738-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | curl | 7.15.5-1etch2 | DSA-1738-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | curl +1 | 7.15.5-2.1.el5_3.4 | RHSA-2009:0341 |
| RHEL 4 | curl +1 | 7.12.1-11.1.el4_7.1 | RHSA-2009:0341 |
| RHEL 3 | curl +1 | 7.10.6-9.rhel3 | RHSA-2009:0341 |
| RHEL 2 | curl +1 | 7.8-3.rhel2 | RHSA-2009:0341 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | curl | 7.51.0-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10303-1 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- cURL/libcURL 7.19.3 - HTTP 'Location:' Redirect Security Bypass EDB-32834 · remote · Mar 3, 2009 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2009:0341 Red Hat Security Advisory: curl security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1738-1 curl - arbitrary file access Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10303-1 curl-7.51.0-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- USN-726-1 vendor-advisory
- 34259 third-party-advisory
- http://curl.haxx.se/lxr/source/CHANGES
- 35766 third-party-advisory
- 34255 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2009:0341 vendor-advisory
- DSA-1738 vendor-advisory
- http://www.withdk.com/2009/03/03/curllibcurl-redirect-arbitrary-file-access/
- curl-location-security-bypass(49030) vdb-entry
- ADV-2009-1865 vdb-entry
- APPLE-SA-2010-03-29-1 vendor-advisory
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0042
- SUSE-SR:2009:006 vendor-advisory
- 34138 third-party-advisory
- http://curl.haxx.se/docs/adv_20090303.html
- 34202 third-party-advisory
- 20090312 rPSA-2009-0042-1 curl mailing-list
- ADV-2009-0581 vdb-entry
- SSA:2009-069-01 vendor-advisory
- [Security-announce] 20090710 VMSA-2009-0009 ESX Service Console updates for udev, sudo, and curl mailing-list
- 33962 vdb-entry
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4077
- http://www.withdk.com/archives/Libcurl_arbitrary_file_access.pdf
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11054 vdb-entry signature
- GLSA-200903-21 vendor-advisory
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6074 vdb-entry signature
- 1021783 vdb-entry
- 34251 third-party-advisory
- 34399 third-party-advisory
- 20090711 VMSA-2009-0009 ESX Service Console updates for udev, sudo, and curl mailing-list
- 34237 third-party-advisory
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0009.html