Description
GNU cpio through 2.13 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted pattern file, because of a dstring.c ds_fgetstr integer overflow that triggers an out-of-bounds heap write. NOTE: it is unclear whether there are common cases where the pattern file, associated with the -E option, is untrusted data.
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 | cpio | 2.13+dfsg-5 | — |
| Debian 13 | cpio | 2.13+dfsg-5 | — |
| Debian 12 | cpio | 2.13+dfsg-5 | — |
| Debian 10 | cpio | 2.12+dfsg-9+deb10u1 | DLA-3445-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | cpio | 2.13+dfsg-4ubuntu4 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | cpio | 2.13+dfsg-2ubuntu0.3 | USN-5064-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | cpio | 2.12+dfsg-6ubuntu0.18.04.4 | USN-5064-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | cpio | 2.11+dfsg-5ubuntu1.1+esm1 | USN-5064-2 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | cpio | 2.11+dfsg-1ubuntu1.2+esm2 | USN-5064-3 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | cpio | 2.12-11.el8 | RHSA-2022:1991 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 8 | cpio | 2.12-11.el8 | ALSA-2022:1991 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8 | cpio | 2.12-11.el8 | RLSA-2022:1991 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP3 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLES 15 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
Show 22 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP4 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | cpio | 2.9-75.81.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:14788-1, SUSE-SU-2021:14777-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.0 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 8 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | cpio | 2.9-75.81.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:14788-1, SUSE-SU-2021:14777-1 |
| SUSE HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | cpio | 2.11-36.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1, SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1, SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | cpio | 2.12-3.9.1 | SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | cpio | 2.13-3.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10697-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | cpio | 2.13-r2 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | cpio | 2.13-13.amzn2023.0.2 | ALAS2023-2023-021 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | cpio | 2.12-11.amzn2 | ALAS2-2023-1972 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | cpio | 2.13-4 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 8 | cpio | 2.12-11.el8 | ELSA-2022-1991 |
Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
GitHub 1 repository
-
fangqyi/cpiopwn ★ 5 · Jul 19, 2021
ACE poc exploit for glibc cpio 2.13 through mmap chunk metadata curruption (CVE-2021-38185)
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 20
- ALSA-2022:1991 Moderate: cpio security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-5064-3 cpio vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-5064-2 cpio vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- DLA-3445-1 cpio - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RHSA-2022:1991 Red Hat Security Advisory: cpio security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Feb 24, 2026
- USN-5064-1 cpio vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- RLSA-2022:1991 Moderate: cpio security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-RU-2021:2779-1 Recommended update for cpio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:14788-1 Security update for cpio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2808-1 Security update for cpio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-RU-2021:2780-1 Recommended update for cpio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:2686-1 Security update for cpio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10697-1 cpio-2.13-3.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2021:14777-1 Security update for cpio SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- NCSC-2025-0382 Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Siemens producten NCSC-NL (Netherlands) · Dec 9, 2025
- SSA-202008 SSA-202008: Multiple Vulnerabilities in Ruggedcom Rox Before V2.17.0 Siemens ProductCERT · Dec 9, 2025
- WID-SEC-2022-1852 cpio: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Jun 30, 2024
- ALAS2-2023-1972 Moderate: cpio security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Mar 7, 2023
- ALAS2023-2023-021 Moderate: cpio security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 22, 2023
- ELSA-2022-1991 Moderate: cpio security update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 17, 2022
References
- https://github.com/fangqyi/cpiopwn
- https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-cpio/2021-08/msg00000.html
- https://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-cpio/2021-08/msg00002.html
- https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/cpio.git/commit/?id=dd96882877721703e19272fe25034560b794061b
- [debian-lts-announce] 20230604 [SECURITY] [DLA 3445-1] cpio security update mailing-list