Description
The is_utf8_well_formed function in GNU less before 475 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via malformed UTF-8 characters, which triggers an out-of-bounds read.
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 | less | 481-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | less | 481-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | less | 481-1 | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | less | 458-7.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2020:2687-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | less | 458-7.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2020:2687-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | less | 481-1.5 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10183-1 |
Advisories 2
- SUSE-SU-2020:2687-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10183-1 less-481-1.5 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- FEDORA-2015-9357 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0595 vendor-advisory
- https://blog.fuzzing-project.org/3-less-out-of-bounds-read-access-TFPA-0022014.html
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0139.html
- MDVSA-2015:199 vendor-advisory