Description
Directory traversal vulnerability in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar 1.14 through 1.29 might allow remote attackers to bypass an intended protection mechanism and write to arbitrary files via vectors related to improper sanitization of the file_name parameter, aka POINTYFEATHER.
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 | tar | 1.29b-1.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | tar | 1.29b-1.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | tar | 1.29b-1.1 | — |
| Debian 8 | tar | 1.27.1-2+deb8u1 | DSA-3702-1 |
| Debian 7 | tar | 1.26+dfsg-0.1+deb7u1 | DLA-690-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | tar | 1.28-2.1ubuntu0.1 | USN-3132-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | tar | 1.27.1-1ubuntu0.1 | USN-3132-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP2 | tar | 1.27.1-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2896-1 |
| SLES 12 SP1 | tar | 1.27.1-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2896-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | tar | 1.26-1.2.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2895-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | tar | 1.27.1-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2896-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP1 | tar | 1.27.1-11.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2896-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | tar | 1.26-1.2.10.1 | SUSE-SU-2016:2895-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | tar | 1.29-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10382-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
Show 16 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.12 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.11 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.10 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.9 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.8 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.7 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.6 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | tar | 1.29-r1 | — |
Advisories 6
- DLA-690-1 tar - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-3702-1 tar - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- USN-3132-1 tar vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2896-1 Security update for tar SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10382-1 tar-1.29-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2016:2895-1 Security update for tar SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 20161030 [CSS] POINTYFEATHER / tar extract pathname bypass (CVE-2016-6321) - patch update mailing-list
- 93937 vdb-entry
- GLSA-201611-19 vendor-advisory
- 20161026 [CSS] POINTYFEATHER / tar extract pathname bypass (CVE-2016-6321) mailing-list
- http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/tar.git/commit/?id=7340f67b9860ea0531c1450e5aa261c50f67165d
- [bug-tar] 20161029 Re: [Bug-tar] possible fixes for CVE-2016-6321 mailing-list
- DSA-3702 vendor-advisory
- https://sintonen.fi/advisories/tar-extract-pathname-bypass.proper.txt
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/139370/GNU-tar-1.29-Extract-Pathname-Bypass.html
- USN-3132-1 vendor-advisory
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210628 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8 mailing-list
- [bookkeeper-issues] 20210629 [GitHub] [bookkeeper] padma81 opened a new issue #2746: Security Vulnerabilities in CentOS 7 image, Upgrade image to CentOS 8 mailing-list