Description
The expansion of '\h' in the prompt string in bash 4.3 allows remote authenticated users to execute arbitrary code via shell metacharacters placed in 'hostname' of a machine.
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 | bash | 4.4-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | bash | 4.4-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | bash | 4.4-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | bash | 4.3-14ubuntu1.2 | USN-3294-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | bash | 4.3-7ubuntu1.7 | USN-3294-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | bash +1 | 4.2.46-28.el7 | RHSA-2017:1931 |
| RHEL 6 | bash +1 | 4.1.2-48.el6 | RHSA-2017:0725 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | bash | 4.3-83.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | bash | 4.3-83.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1398-2, SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | bash | 4.2-82.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2872-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | bash | 3.2-147.29.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0302-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | bash | 4.3-83.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | bash | 4.3-83.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | bash | 4.2-82.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2872-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | bash | 3.2-147.29.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:0302-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 7 | bash | 4.3-83.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 4 | bash | 4.3-83.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
Show 13 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | bash | 4.4.12-r1 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | bash +1 | 4.2.46-28.el7 | ELSA-2017-1931 |
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2017:1931 Red Hat Security Advisory: bash security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2017:0725 Red Hat Security Advisory: bash security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-3294-1 bash vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:0302-1 Security update for bash SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2872-1 Security update for bash SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1398-2 Security update for bash SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1398-1 Security update for bash SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ELSA-2017-1931 Moderate: bash security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 7, 2017
References
- [oss-security] 20160927 Re: Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160916 CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- RHSA-2017:0725 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20160929 Re: Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160920 Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- 92999 vdb-entry
- RHSA-2017:1931 vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20161007 Re: Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160918 Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160919 Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20161010 Re: Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20160916 Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list
- GLSA-201612-39 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1377613
- [oss-security] 20161010 RE: Re: CVE-2016-0634 -- bash prompt expanding $HOSTNAME mailing-list