Description
zsh through version 5.4.2 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow in the utils.c:checkmailpath function. A local attacker could exploit this to execute arbitrary code in the context of another user.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| zsh | zsh | through 5.4.2 | — |
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 | zsh | 5.5-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | zsh | 5.5-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | zsh | 5.5-1 | — |
| Debian 9 | zsh | 5.3.1-4+deb9u1 | DLA-2470-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | zsh | 5.4.2-3ubuntu3.1 | USN-3764-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | zsh | 5.1.1-1ubuntu2.3 | USN-3764-1 |
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | zsh | 5.0.2-3ubuntu6.3 | USN-3764-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | zsh +1 | 5.0.2-31.el7 | RHSA-2018:3073 |
| RHEL 6 | zsh +1 | 4.3.11-8.el6 | RHSA-2018:1932 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 | zsh | 5.5-3.3.15 | SUSE-SU-2018:1874-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 11 SP4 | zsh | 4.3.6-67.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1037-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | zsh | 4.3.6-67.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2018:1037-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | zsh | 5.0.5-6.19.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | zsh | 5.8-7.7 | openSUSE-SU-2024:11543-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | zsh +1 | 5.5.1-1.amzn2 | ALAS2-2018-1013 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | zsh +1 | 5.0.2-31.el7 | ELSA-2018-3073 |
Advisories 10
- RHSA-2018:3073 Red Hat Security Advisory: zsh security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 28, 2026
- RHSA-2018:1932 Red Hat Security Advisory: zsh security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- USN-3764-1 zsh vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DLA-2470-1 zsh - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1037-1 Security update for zsh SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:11543-1 zsh-5.8-7.7 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:0733-1 Security update for zsh SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2018:1874-1 Security update for zsh SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2018-3073 Moderate: zsh security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Nov 5, 2018
- ALAS2-2018-1013 Moderate: zsh security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · May 10, 2018
References
- https://sourceforge.net/p/zsh/code/ci/31f72205630687c1cef89347863aab355296a27f/
- USN-3764-1 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201805-10 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2018:1932 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1563395
- RHSA-2018:3073 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201201 [SECURITY] [DLA 2470-1] zsh security update mailing-list