Description
The headerLoad function in lib/header.c in RPM before 4.9.1.3 does not properly validate region tags, which allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a large region size in a package header.
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 | rpm | 4.9.1.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | rpm | 4.9.1.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | rpm | 4.9.1.3-1 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | rpm | 4.8.1-6+squeeze2 | DLA-140-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | rpm +6 | 4.8.0-19.el6_2.1 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 5 | popt | 1.10.2.3-28.el5_8 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 5 | rpm +5 | 4.4.2.3-28.el5_8 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Rhel Mission Critical 5 | popt | 1.10.2.3-9.el5_3.3 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| Red Hat Rhel Mission Critical 5 | rpm +5 | 4.4.2.3-9.el5_3.3 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 6.1 EUS | rpm +6 | 4.8.0-16.el6_1.2 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 6.0 EUS | rpm +6 | 4.8.0-12.el6_0.2 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 5.6 EUS | popt | 1.10.2.3-22.el5_6.3 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 5.6 EUS | rpm +5 | 4.4.2.3-22.el5_6.3 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 4 ELS | popt | 1.9.1-36_nonptl.el4 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 4 ELS | rpm +4 | 4.3.3-36_nonptl.el4 | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 3 ELS | popt | 1.8.2-36_nonptl | RHSA-2012:0451 |
| RHEL 3 ELS | rpm +4 | 4.2.3-36_nonptl | RHSA-2012:0451 |
Advisories 2
- RHSA-2012:0451 Red Hat Security Advisory: rpm security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- DLA-140-1 rpm - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/ovmbulletinjul2016-3090546.html
- RHSA-2012:0531 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2012:056 vendor-advisory
- 1026882 vdb-entry
- http://rpm.org/wiki/Releases/4.9.1.3
- 48716 third-party-advisory
- 81010 vdb-entry
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=798585
- http://rpm.org/gitweb?p=rpm.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=472e569562d4c90d7a298080e0052856aa7fa86b
- 48651 third-party-advisory
- RHSA-2012:0451 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2012-5421 vendor-advisory
- 52865 vdb-entry
- USN-1695-1 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2012:0588 vendor-advisory
- 49110 third-party-advisory
- FEDORA-2012-5420 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2012-5298 vendor-advisory
- rpm-headerload-code-execution(74583) vdb-entry
- openSUSE-SU-2012:0589 vendor-advisory
- http://rpm.org/gitweb?p=rpm.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=858a328cd0f7d4bcd8500c78faaf00e4f8033df6