Description
GnuPG 1.4.x, 2.0.x, and 2.1.x treats a key flags subpacket with all bits cleared (no usage permitted) as if it has all bits set (all usage permitted), which might allow remote attackers to bypass intended cryptographic protection mechanisms by leveraging the subkey.
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 | gnupg2 | 2.0.22-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | gnupg2 | 2.0.22-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | gnupg2 | 2.0.22-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | gnupg | 1.4.12-7+deb7u2 | DSA-2773-1 |
| Debian 7 | gnupg2 | 2.0.19-2+deb7u1 | DSA-2774-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | gnupg | 1.4.10-4+squeeze3 | DSA-2773-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | gnupg2 | 2.0.14-2+squeeze2 | DSA-2774-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6 | gnupg2 +1 | 2.0.14-6.el6_4 | RHSA-2013:1459 |
| RHEL 5 | gnupg | 1.4.5-18.el5_10 | RHSA-2013:1458 |
| RHEL 5 | gnupg2 | 2.0.10-6.el5_10 | RHSA-2013:1459 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | gpg2 | 2.1.16-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10102-1 |
Advisories 5
- RHSA-2013:1459 Red Hat Security Advisory: gnupg2 security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2013:1458 Red Hat Security Advisory: gnupg security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DSA-2774-1 gnupg2 - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-2773-1 gnupg - several Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10102-1 gpg2-2.1.16-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- http://thread.gmane.org/gmane.comp.encryption.gpg.devel/17712/focus=18138
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1532 vendor-advisory
- USN-1987-1 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2773 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130913 Re: GnuPG treats no-usage-permitted keys as all-usages-permitted mailing-list
- RHSA-2013:1459 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2013:1526 vendor-advisory
- DSA-2774 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1010137