Description
Directory traversal vulnerability in GNU patch versions which support Git-style patching before 2.7.3 allows remote attackers to write to arbitrary files with the permissions of the target user via a .. (dot dot) in a diff file name.
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 | patch | 2.7.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | patch | 2.7.3-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | patch | 2.7.3-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | patch | 2.7.1-4ubuntu2.3 | USN-2651-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | patch | 2.7.5-7.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1019-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | patch | 2.7.5-7.1 | SUSE-SU-2015:1019-1 |
Advisories 2
- USN-2651-1 patch vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:1019-1 Security update for patch SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=775873
- 72846 vdb-entry
- FEDORA-2015-1134 vendor-advisory
- https://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/?44059
- [oss-security] 20150127 Re: CVE Request: patch: directory traversal via file rename mailing-list
- https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/patch.git/commit/?id=17953b5893f7c9835f0dd2a704ba04e0371d2cbd
- FEDORA-2015-1165 vendor-advisory
- USN-2651-1 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1184490