Description
Absolute path traversal vulnerability in GNU Wget before 1.16, when recursion is enabled, allows remote FTP servers to write to arbitrary files, and consequently execute arbitrary code, via a LIST response that references the same filename within two entries, one of which indicates that the filename is for a symlink.
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 | wget | 1.16-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | wget | 1.16-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | wget | 1.16-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | wget | 1.13.4-3+deb7u2 | DSA-3062-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | wget | 1.12-2.1+deb6u1 | DLA-82-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | wget | 1.15-1ubuntu1.14.04.1 | USN-2393-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | wget | 1.14-10.el7_0.1 | RHSA-2014:1764 |
| RHEL 6 | wget | 1.12-5.el6_6.1 | RHSA-2014:1764 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 6.5 EUS | wget | 1.12-1.12.el6_5 | RHSA-2014:1955 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | wget | 1.18-2.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10263-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | wget | 1.14-10.el7_0.1 | ELSA-2014-1764 |
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.
Metasploit 1 module
-
GNU Wget FTP Symlink Arbitrary Filesystem Access
auxiliary/server/wget_symlink_file_write
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 7
- RHSA-2014:1955 Red Hat Security Advisory: wget security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2014:1764 Red Hat Security Advisory: wget security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- DLA-82-1 wget - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3062-1 wget - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-2393-1 wget vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10263-1 wget-1.18-2.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2014-1764 Moderate: wget security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Oct 30, 2014
References
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/wget.git/commit/?id=b4440d96cf8173d68ecaa07c36b8f4316ee794d0
- GLSA-201411-05 vendor-advisory
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05376917
- [bug-wget] 20141027 GNU wget 1.16 released mailing-list
- USN-2393-1 vendor-advisory
- MDVSA-2015:121 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2014:1955 vendor-advisory
- DSA-3062 vendor-advisory
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/wget.git/commit/?id=18b0979357ed7dc4e11d4f2b1d7e0f5932d82aa7
- VU#685996 third-party-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2014:1366 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2014:1764 vendor-advisory
- SUSE-SU-2014:1408 vendor-advisory
- https://h20566.www2.hpe.com/portal/site/hpsc/public/kb/docDisplay?docId=emr_na-c05390722
- openSUSE-SU-2014:1380 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1139181
- https://community.rapid7.com/community/metasploit/blog/2014/10/28/r7-2014-15-gnu-wget-ftp-symlink-arbitrary-filesystem-access
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjan2015-2370101.html
- 70751 vdb-entry
- https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10106
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2014-0431.html
- https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/pull/4088