Description
Integer underflow in the clean_string function in irc_string.c in (1) IRCD-hybrid 7.2.2 and 7.2.3, (2) ircd-ratbox before 2.2.9, and (3) oftc-hybrid before 1.6.8, when flatten_links is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (daemon crash) via a LINKS command.
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 13 | ircd-hybrid | 1:7.2.2.dfsg.2-6.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | ircd-hybrid | 1:7.2.2.dfsg.2-6.1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | ircd-hybrid | 1:7.2.2.dfsg.2-4+lenny1 | DSA-1980-1 |
| Debian 5.0 | ircd-ratbox | 2.2.8.dfsg-2+lenny1 | DSA-1980-1 |
| Debian 4.0 | ircd-hybrid | 1:7.2.2.dfsg.2-3+etch1 | DSA-1980-1 |
Advisories 1
- DSA-1980-1 ircd-hybrid ircd-ratbox - arbitrary code execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 38382 third-party-advisory
- 38381 third-party-advisory
- [ircd-ratbox] 20100125 ircd-ratbox-2.2.9 released mailing-list
- DSA-1980 vendor-advisory
- 38383 third-party-advisory
- http://trac.oftc.net/projects/oftc-hybrid/browser/tags/oftc-hybrid-1.6.8/RELNOTES
- 37978 vdb-entry
- http://svn.ircd-hybrid.org:8000/viewcvs.cgi?rev=1044&view=rev
- 38210 third-party-advisory
- http://security.debian.org/pool/updates/main/i/ircd-hybrid/ircd-hybrid_7.2.2.dfsg.2-4+lenny1.diff.gz