Description
Multiple integer overflows in the (1) GC_generic_malloc and (2) calloc functions in malloc.c, and the (3) GC_generic_malloc_ignore_off_page function in mallocx.c in Boehm-Demers-Weiser GC (libgc) before 7.2 make it easier for context-dependent attackers to perform memory-related attacks such as buffer overflows via a large size value, which causes less memory to be allocated than expected.
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 | libgc | 1:7.1-9 | — |
| Debian 13 | libgc | 1:7.1-9 | — |
| Debian 12 | libgc | 1:7.1-9 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | gc +1 | 7.1-12.el6_4 | RHSA-2013:1500 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Network Satellite 5 | gc | 7.1-12.2.el5sat | RHSA-2014:0149 |
| Red Hat Network Proxy 5 | gc | 7.1-12.2.el5sat | RHSA-2014:0150 |
Advisories 3
- RHSA-2013:1500 Red Hat Security Advisory: gc security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2014:0149 Red Hat Security Advisory: gc security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 29, 2026
- RHSA-2014:0150 Red Hat Security Advisory: gc security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jan 29, 2026
References
- RHSA-2013:1500 vendor-advisory
- USN-1546-1 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/ivmai/bdwgc/commit/e10c1eb9908c2774c16b3148b30d2f3823d66a9a
- FEDORA-2012-9637 vendor-advisory
- http://kqueue.org/blog/2012/03/05/memory-allocator-security-revisited/
- [oss-security] 20120605 memory allocator upstream patches mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20120607 Re: memory allocator upstream patches mailing-list
- MDVSA-2012:158 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2014:0150 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/ivmai/bdwgc/commit/83231d0ab5ed60015797c3d1ad9056295ac3b2bb
- https://github.com/ivmai/bdwgc/blob/master/ChangeLog
- FEDORA-2012-9556 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/ivmai/bdwgc/commit/be9df82919960214ee4b9d3313523bff44fd99e1
- RHSA-2014:0149 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/ivmai/bdwgc/commit/6a93f8e5bcad22137f41b6c60a1c7384baaec2b3
- 54227 vdb-entry