Description
The compile_branch function in pcre_compile.c in PCRE 8.x before 8.39 and pcre2_compile.c in PCRE2 before 10.22 mishandles patterns containing an (*ACCEPT) substring in conjunction with nested parentheses, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (stack-based buffer overflow) via a crafted regular expression, as demonstrated by a JavaScript RegExp object encountered by Konqueror, aka ZDI-CAN-3542.
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 | pcre2 | 10.21-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | pcre2 | 10.21-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pcre2 | 10.21-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | pcre3 | 2:8.38-2 | — |
| Debian 6.0 | pcre3 | 8.02-1.1+deb6u1 | DLA-441-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | pcre3 | 1:8.31-2ubuntu2.2 | USN-2943-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | pcre +3 | 8.32-15.el7_2.1 | RHSA-2016:1025 |
| RHEL 2 | rh-mariadb100-mariadb +8 | 1:10.0.25-4.el6 | RHSA-2016:1132 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | pcre | 8.39-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2971-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | pcre | 8.39-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2971-1 |
| SLES 12 | pcre | 8.39-7.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | pcre | 8.39-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2971-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | pcre | 8.39-5.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1, SUSE-SU-2016:2971-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 | pcre | 8.39-7.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.4 | pcre | 8.38-r1 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | pcre +3 | 8.32-15.el7_2.1 | ELSA-2016-1025 |
Advisories 8
- WID-SEC-2026-3767 PCRE (Perl Compatible Regular Expressions): Schwachstelle ermöglicht Ausführen von beliebigem Programmcode mit den Rechten des Dienstes BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 6, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1132 Red Hat Security Advisory: rh-mariadb100-mariadb security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 5, 2026
- RHSA-2016:1025 Red Hat Security Advisory: pcre security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 5, 2026
- USN-2943-1 pcre3 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-441-1 pcre3 - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:3161-1 Security update for pcre SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2971-1 Security update for pcre SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2016-1025 Important: pcre security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 11, 2016
References
- 84810 vdb-entry
- http://vcs.pcre.org/pcre2?view=revision&revision=489
- RHSA-2016:1132 vendor-advisory
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html
- http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg3T1023886
- RHSA-2016:1025 vendor-advisory
- https://bugs.debian.org/815921
- https://bugs.debian.org/815920
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1311503
- https://bugs.exim.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1791
- https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2016-18
- https://bto.bluecoat.com/security-advisory/sa128
- http://vcs.pcre.org/pcre?view=revision&revision=1631