Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in textbox.c in newt 0.51.5, 0.51.6, and 0.52.2 allows local users to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a request to display a crafted text dialog box.
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 | newt | 0.52.10-4.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | newt | 0.52.10-4.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | newt | 0.52.10-4.1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | newt | 0.52.2-11.3+lenny1 | DSA-1894-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | newt | 0.52.2-10+etch1 | DSA-1894-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 5 | newt +1 | 0.52.2-12.el5_4.1 | RHSA-2009:1463 |
| RHEL 4 | newt +1 | 0.51.6-10.el4_8.1 | RHSA-2009:1463 |
| RHEL 3 | newt +1 | 0.51.5-2.el3 | RHSA-2009:1463 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | newt | 0.52.18-1.9 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10010-1 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | perl-Newt | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2009:1463 Red Hat Security Advisory: newt security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-1894-1 newt - arbitrary code execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10010-1 libnewt0_52-0.52.18-1.9 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 38794 third-party-advisory
- [security-announce] 20100303 VMSA-2010-0004 ESX Service Console and vMA third party updates mailing-list
- DSA-1894 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=523955
- RHSA-2009:1463 vendor-advisory
- http://support.avaya.com/css/P8/documents/100067251
- 36515 vdb-entry
- http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/n/newt/newt_0.52.2-10+etch1.diff.gz
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8556 vdb-entry signature
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9664 vdb-entry signature
- 37922 third-party-advisory
- USN-837-1 vendor-advisory
- 38833 third-party-advisory
- http://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10705
- SUSE-SR:2009:017 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2010-0528 vdb-entry