Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the ATRDecodeAtr function in the Answer-to-Reset (ATR) Handler (atrhandler.c) for pcscd in PCSC-Lite 1.5.3, and possibly other 1.5.x and 1.6.x versions, allows physically proximate attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a smart card with an ATR message containing a long attribute value.
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 | pcsc-lite | 1.5.5-4 | — |
| Debian 13 | pcsc-lite | 1.5.5-4 | — |
| Debian 12 | pcsc-lite | 1.5.5-4 | — |
| Debian 5.0 | pcsc-lite | 1.4.102-1+lenny4 | DSA-2156-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | pcsc-lite +3 | 1.5.2-11.el6 | RHSA-2013:0525 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2013:0525 Red Hat Security Advisory: pcsc-lite security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2156-1 pcsc-lite - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- FEDORA-2011-0123 vendor-advisory
- ADV-2011-0180 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2011-0164 vendor-advisory
- http://labs.mwrinfosecurity.com/files/Advisories/mwri_pcsc-atr-handler-buffer-overflow_2010-12-13.pdf
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=607781
- [oss-security] 20101222 CVE Request -- 1, ccid -- int.overflow leading to array index error 2, pcsc-lite stack-based buffer overflow in ATR decoder [was: CVE request: opensc buffer overflow ] mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2010-4531
- 42912 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2011-0256 vdb-entry
- ADV-2011-0101 vdb-entry
- ADV-2010-3264 vdb-entry
- [Pcsclite-cvs-commit] 20101103 r5370 - /trunk/PCSC/src/atrhandler.c mailing-list
- 43112 third-party-advisory
- 45450 vdb-entry
- [oss-security] 20110103 Re: CVE Request -- 1, ccid -- int.overflow leading to array index error 2, pcsc-lite stack-based buffer overflow in ATR decoder [was: CVE request: opensc buffer overflow ] mailing-list
- DSA-2156 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2011:015 vendor-advisory