Description
locale/programs/locale.c in locale in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) before 2.13 does not quote its output, which might allow local users to gain privileges via a crafted localization environment variable, in conjunction with a program that executes a script that uses the eval function.
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 | glibc | 2.13-16 | — |
| Debian 13 | glibc | 2.13-16 | — |
| Debian 12 | glibc | 2.13-16 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | nscd +6 | 2.12-1.7.el6_0.5 | RHSA-2011:0413 |
| RHEL 5 | nscd +6 | 2.5-58.el5_6.2 | RHSA-2011:0412 |
| RHEL 4 | nscd +8 | 2.3.4-2.57 | RHSA-2012:0125 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2012:0125 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0413 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2011:0412 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 29, 2026
References
- GLSA-201011-01 vendor-advisory
- 20111013 VMSA-2011-0012 VMware ESXi and ESX updates to third party libraries and ESX Service Console mailing-list
- 46397 third-party-advisory
- http://sourceware.org/git/?p=glibc.git%3Ba=patch%3Bh=026373745eab50a683536d950cb7e17dc98c4259
- RHSA-2011:0412 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=625893
- ADV-2011-0863 vdb-entry
- 43989 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20110308 glibc locale escaping issue mailing-list
- http://sources.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=11904
- MDVSA-2011:178 vendor-advisory
- 43830 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2011:0413 vendor-advisory
- http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=330923
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2011-0012.html
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:12272 vdb-entry signature
- 43976 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20110308 Re: glibc locale escaping issue mailing-list
- http://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=11904
- [oss-security] 20110308 Re: glibc locale escaping issue mailing-list
- 1025286 vdb-entry