Description
GNU Emacs through 28.2 allows attackers to execute commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a source-code file, because lib-src/etags.c uses the system C library function in its implementation of the ctags program. For example, a victim may use the "ctags *" command (suggested in the ctags documentation) in a situation where the current working directory has contents that depend on untrusted input.
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 | emacs | 1:28.2+1-8 | — |
| Debian 13 | emacs | 1:28.2+1-8 | — |
| Debian 12 | emacs | 1:28.2+1-8 | — |
| Debian 12 | xemacs21 | 21.4.24-11 | — |
| Debian 11 | emacs | 1:27.1+1-3.1+deb11u1 | DSA-5314-1 |
| Debian 10 | emacs | 1:26.1+1-3.2+deb10u3 | DLA-3257-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | emacs | 1:27.1+1-3ubuntu5.2 | USN-7027-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | xemacs21 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 24.04 LTS | emacs | 1:29.3+1-1ubuntu2+esm1 | USN-7027-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | emacs | 1:26.3+1-1ubuntu2+esm1 | USN-7027-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | emacs25 | 25.2+1-6ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-7027-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | emacs24 | 24.5+1-6ubuntu1.1+esm1 | USN-7027-1, USN-5781-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | emacs +4 | 1:27.2-8.el9 | RHSA-2023:2366 |
| RHEL 8 | emacs +5 | 1:26.1-9.el8 | RHSA-2023:3042 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8.6 EUS | emacs +5 | 1:26.1-7.el8_6.3 | RHSA-2024:1103 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 9 | emacs +4 | 1:27.2-8.el9 | ALSA-2023:2366 |
| AlmaLinux 8 | emacs +5 | 1:26.1-9.el8 | ALSA-2023:3042 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP4 | emacs | 27.2-150400.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4304-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLES 15 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
Show 19 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SLES 12 SP4 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SLES 12 SP3 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP4 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SUSE OpenStack Cloud 9 | emacs | 24.3-25.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | emacs | 28.2-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12541-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | emacs | 27.2-150400.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4304-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | emacs | 25.3-150000.3.12.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | emacs | 28.2-r3 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | emacs | 28.2-r1 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | emacs +6 | 1:28.1-2.amzn2023.0.2 | ALAS2023-2023-108 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | emacs +6 | 1:27.2-4.amzn2.0.2 | ALAS2-2023-1928 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | emacs | 28.1-5 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | emacs +4 | 1:27.2-8.el9 | ELSA-2023-2366 |
| Oracle Linux 8 | emacs +5 | 1:26.1-9.el8 | ELSA-2023-3042 |
Advisories 20
- ALSA-2023:2366 Moderate: emacs security and bug fix update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- ALSA-2023:3042 Moderate: emacs security and bug fix update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- WID-SEC-2024-0794 Dell ECS: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Aug 11, 2026
- RHSA-2024:1103 Red Hat Security Advisory: emacs security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2023:3042 Red Hat Security Advisory: emacs security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-7027-1 emacs, emacs24, emacs25 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- USN-5781-1 emacs24 vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- DSA-5314-1 emacs - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-3257-1 emacs - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12541-1 emacs-28.2-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:4304-1 Security update for emacs SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:4305-1 Security update for emacs SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:4310-1 Security update for emacs SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- RHSA-2023:2366 Red Hat Security Advisory: emacs security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Nov 22, 2025
- WID-SEC-2023-1424 Xerox FreeFlow Print Server für Solaris: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 6, 2025
- WID-SEC-2022-2181 GNU Emacs: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Sep 19, 2024
- ELSA-2023-3042 Moderate: emacs security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 24, 2023
- ELSA-2023-2366 Moderate: emacs security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 15, 2023
- ALAS2023-2023-108 Important: emacs security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 22, 2023
- ALAS2-2023-1928 Important: emacs security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 4, 2023
References
- https://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/emacs.git/commit/?id=d48bb4874bc6cd3e69c7a15fc3c91cc141025c51
- [debian-lts-announce] 20221231 [SECURITY] [DLA 3257-1] emacs security update mailing-list
- FEDORA-2022-d69c7f95a4 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2022-e37f239f2e vendor-advisory
- DSA-5314 vendor-advisory