Description
Format string vulnerability in the rrdtool module 1.4.7 for Python, as used in Zenoss, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via format string specifiers to the rrdtool.graph 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 | rrdtool | 1.4.8-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | rrdtool | 1.4.8-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | rrdtool | 1.4.8-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | rrdtool | 1.7.2-3ubuntu5 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | rrdtool | 1.7.2-3build1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | rrdtool | 1.7.0-1build1 | — |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | rrdtool | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | rrdtool | 1.4.7-20.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0103-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | rrdtool | 1.4.7-20.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0103-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | rrdtool | 1.4.7-20.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0103-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | rrdtool | 1.4.7-20.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0103-1 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 1
- Python RRDtool Module - Function Format String EDB-38521 · remote · May 18, 2013 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- SUSE-SU-2017:0103-1 Security update for rrdtool SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- [oss-security] 20130418 plone, rrdtool, zenoss bugs mailing-list
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=969296
- https://github.com/oetiker/rrdtool-1.x/pull/397
- [oss-security] 20130419 Re: plone, rrdtool, zenoss bugs mailing-list
- https://github.com/oetiker/rrdtool-1.x/issues/396
- [oss-security] 20130531 Re: plone, rrdtool, zenoss bugs mailing-list