Description
There is an out-of-bounds write in checkType located in etc.c in w3m 0.5.3. It can be triggered by sending a crafted HTML file to the w3m binary. It allows an attacker to cause Denial of Service or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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 | w3m | 0.5.3+git20230121-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | w3m | 0.5.3+git20230121-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | w3m | 0.5.3+git20230121-1 | — |
| Debian 10 | w3m | 0.5.3-37+deb10u1 | DLA-3541-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | w3m | 0.5.3+git20210102-6ubuntu0.1 | USN-5796-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | w3m | 0.5.3-37ubuntu0.1 | USN-5796-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | w3m | 0.5.3-36ubuntu0.1 | USN-5796-1 |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | w3m | No fix yet | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | w3m | 0.5.3-15ubuntu0.2+esm1 | USN-5796-2 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP4 | w3m | 0.5.3+git20180125-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0065-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | w3m | 0.5.3.git20161120-161.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0066-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | w3m | 0.5.3.git20161120-161.6.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0066-1 |
| SLE Real Time 15 SP3 | w3m | 0.5.3+git20180125-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0065-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | w3m | 0.5.3+git20180125-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12612-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | w3m | 0.5.3+git20180125-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0065-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | w3m | 0.5.3_git20241203-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | w3m | 0.5.3_git20241203-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | w3m | 0.5.3_git20241203-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | w3m | 0.5.3.20230121-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | w3m | 0.5.3.20230121-r0 | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | w3m | 0.5.3.20230121-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | w3m | 0.5.3.20230121-r0 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | w3m | 0.5.3.20220429-r3 | — |
Advisories 6
- USN-5796-2 w3m vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- USN-5796-1 w3m vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DLA-3541-1 w3m - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:0066-1 Security update for w3m SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12612-1 w3m-0.5.3+git20180125-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:0065-1 Security update for w3m SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://github.com/tats/w3m/issues/242
- FEDORA-2022-7d2f942be2 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2022-ce04ff8b49 vendor-advisory
- [debian-lts-announce] 20230824 [SECURITY] [DLA 3541-1] w3m security update mailing-list
- FEDORA-2024-aeb75f8b5b vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2024-3fc66f8bf3 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2024-38c2261ca0 vendor-advisory