Description
A heap-based buffer overflow exists in GNU Bash before 4.3 when wide characters, not supported by the current locale set in the LC_CTYPE environment variable, are printed through the echo built-in function. A local attacker, who can provide data to print through the "echo -e" built-in function, may use this flaw to crash a script or execute code with the privileges of the bash process. This occurs because ansicstr() in lib/sh/strtrans.c mishandles u32cconv().
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 | bash | 4.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | bash | 4.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | bash | 4.3-1 | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | bash | 4.2-83.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2976-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | bash | 4.2-83.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2019:2976-1 |
Advisories 1
- SUSE-SU-2019:2976-1 Security update for bash SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1721071
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/bash.git/commit/?h=devel&id=863d31ae775d56b785dc5b0105b6d251515d81d5
- 108824 vdb-entry
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K05122252
- https://support.f5.com/csp/article/K05122252?utm_source=f5support&%3Butm_medium=RSS
- USN-4180-1 vendor-advisory