Description
GNU Wget 1.12 and earlier uses a server-provided filename instead of the original URL to determine the destination filename of a download, which allows remote servers to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a 3xx redirect to a URL with a .wgetrc filename followed by a 3xx redirect to a URL with a crafted filename, and possibly execute arbitrary code as a consequence of writing to a dotfile in a home directory.
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 | wget | 1.12-2.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wget | 1.12-2.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wget | 1.12-2.1 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | wget | 1.11.4-2+lenny2 | DSA-2088-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | wget | 1.12-1.11.el6_5 | RHSA-2014:0151 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | wget | 1.18-2.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10263-1 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2014:0151 Red Hat Security Advisory: wget security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2088-1 wget - potential code execution Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10263-1 wget-1.18-2.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20100517 [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=602797
- [bug-wget] 20100520 Re: security risk of unexpected download filenames mailing-list
- RHSA-2014:0151 vendor-advisory
- [bug-wget] 20100520 security risk of unexpected download filenames mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100609 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- 65722 vdb-entry
- http://www.ocert.org/advisories/ocert-2010-001.html
- [oss-security] 20100518 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- [bug-wget] 20100521 Re: security risk of unexpected download filenames mailing-list
- [bug-wget] 20100520 Re: security risk of unexpected download filenames mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=591580
- [oss-security] 20100521 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100517 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100520 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100519 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list
- [bug-wget] 20100521 Re: security risk of unexpected download filenames mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20100518 Re: [oCERT-2010-001] multiple http client unexpected download filename vulnerability mailing-list