Description
The PTR_MANGLE implementation in the GNU C Library (aka glibc or libc6) 2.4, 2.17, and earlier, and Embedded GLIBC (EGLIBC) does not initialize the random value for the pointer guard, which makes it easier for context-dependent attackers to control execution flow by leveraging a buffer-overflow vulnerability in an application and using the known zero value pointer guard to calculate a pointer address.
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 | glibc | 2.17-94 | — |
| Debian 13 | glibc | 2.17-94 | — |
| Debian 12 | glibc | 2.17-94 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | eglibc | 2.11.3-4+deb6u5 | DLA-165-1 |
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.
Exploit-DB 1
- glibc and eglibc 2.5/2.7/2.13 - Local Buffer Overflow EDB-28657 · local · Sep 30, 2013
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- DLA-165-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- 20150907 Glibc Pointer guarding weakness mailing-list
- MDVSA-2013:284 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20130716 Re: CVE-2013-4788 - Eglibc PTR MANGLE bug mailing-list
- 61183 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201503-04 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2013:283 vendor-advisory
- http://hmarco.org/bugs/CVE-2013-4788.html