Description
OCaml before 4.03.0 does not properly handle sign extensions, which allows remote attackers to conduct buffer overflow attacks or obtain sensitive information as demonstrated by a long string to the String.copy function.
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 | ocaml | 4.02.3-9 | — |
| Debian 13 | ocaml | 4.02.3-9 | — |
| Debian 12 | ocaml | 4.02.3-9 | — |
| Debian 7 | ocaml | 3.12.1-4+deb7u1 | DLA-466-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | ocaml | 4.01.0-3ubuntu3.1 | USN-3437-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | ocaml | 4.05.0-10ubuntu1+esm1 | USN-4778-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | ocaml | 4.02.3-5ubuntu2+esm1 | USN-4778-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | ocaml | 4.01.0-3ubuntu3.1+esm1 | USN-4778-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | ocaml +11 | 4.01.0-22.7.el7_2 | RHSA-2016:1296 |
| RHEL 7 | virt-dib +25 | 1:1.32.7-3.el7 | RHSA-2016:2576 |
| RHEL 7 | virt-p2v | 1.32.7-2.el7 | RHSA-2016:2576 |
| RHEL 6 | libguestfs +11 | 1:1.20.11-20.el6 | RHSA-2017:0564 |
| RHEL 6 | ocaml +10 | 3.11.2-5.el6 | RHSA-2017:0565 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP1 | ocaml | 4.02.3-6.6.14 | SUSE-SU-2016:2194-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | ocaml | 4.02.1-3.4 | SUSE-SU-2016:2192-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | ocaml +11 | 4.01.0-22.7.el7_2 | ELSA-2016-1296 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | virt-dib +25 | 1:1.32.7-3.el7 | ELSA-2016-2576 |
Advisories 11
- USN-4778-1 ocaml vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0565 Red Hat Security Advisory: ocaml security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0564 Red Hat Security Advisory: libguestfs security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2016:2576 Red Hat Security Advisory: libguestfs and virt-p2v security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1296 Red Hat Security Advisory: ocaml security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- DLA-466-1 ocaml - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3437-1 ocaml vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2194-1 Security update for ocaml SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2192-1 Security update for ocaml SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2016-2576 Moderate: libguestfs and virt-p2v security, bug fix, and enhancement update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 9, 2016
- ELSA-2016-1296 Moderate: ocaml security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jun 23, 2016
References
- RHSA-2016:1296 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2016:2576 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinjul2016-3090544.html
- GLSA-201702-15 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:2273 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20160429 Re: buffer overflow and information leak in OCaml < 4.03.0 mailing-list
- FEDORA-2016-1c4e616564 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2017:0564 vendor-advisory
- 89318 vdb-entry
- https://github.com/ocaml/ocaml/commit/659615c7b100a89eafe6253e7a5b9d84d0e8df74#diff-a97df53e3ebc59bb457191b496c90762
- RHSA-2017:0565 vendor-advisory
- openSUSE-SU-2016:1335 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20160429 buffer overflow and information leak in OCaml < 4.03.0 mailing-list