Description
The ELF parser (readelf.c) in file before 5.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption or crash) via a large number of (1) program or (2) section headers or (3) invalid capabilities.
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 | file | 1:5.21+15-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | file | 1:5.21+15-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | file | 1:5.21+15-1 | — |
| Debian 7 | file | 5.11-2+deb7u7 | DSA-3121-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | file | 5.04-5+squeeze9 | DLA-131-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | file | 1:5.14-2ubuntu3.3 | USN-2494-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | file +4 | 5.11-31.el7 | RHSA-2015:2155 |
| RHEL 6 | file +4 | 5.04-30.el6 | RHSA-2016:0760 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | file +1 | 5.22-10.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3048-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | file +1 | 5.22-10.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3048-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | file | 5.22-10.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3048-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | file | 5.22-10.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:3048-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | file | 5.29-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10221-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | file +4 | 5.11-31.el7 | ELSA-2015-2155 |
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2016:0760 Red Hat Security Advisory: file security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2015:2155 Red Hat Security Advisory: file security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-2494-1 file vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3121-1 file - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-131-1 file - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:3048-1 Security update for file SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10221-1 file-5.29-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- ELSA-2015-2155 Moderate: file security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 23, 2015
References
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/d7cdad007c507e6c79f51f058dd77fab70ceb9f6
- 61944 third-party-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html
- FreeBSD-SA-14:28 vendor-advisory
- 71700 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2016:0760 vendor-advisory
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/b4c01141e5367f247b84dcaf6aefbb4e741842b8
- USN-2494-1 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- 1031344 vdb-entry
- 62081 third-party-advisory
- [oss-security] 20141216 file(1): multiple denial of service issues (resource consumption), CVE-2014-8116 and CVE-2014-8117 mailing-list
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0040.html
- https://github.com/file/file/blob/00cef282a902a4a6709bbbbb933ee397768caa38/ChangeLog