Description
In GNU Less before 609, crafted data can result in "less -R" not filtering ANSI escape sequences sent to the terminal.
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 | less | 590-1.2 | — |
| Debian 13 | less | 590-1.2 | — |
| Debian 12 | less | 590-1.2 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | less | 590-1ubuntu0.22.04.1 | USN-5848-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | less | 590-2.el9_2 | RHSA-2023:3725 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 9 | less | 590-2.el9_2 | ALSA-2023:3725 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 9 | less | 590-2.el9_2 | RLSA-2023:3725 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP4 | less | 590-150400.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0348-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Micro 5.3 | less | 590-150400.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0348-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | less | 608-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12671-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | less | 590-150400.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0348-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.3 | less | 590-150400.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:0348-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | less | 608-2.amzn2023.0.1 | ALAS2023-2023-123 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | less | 590-2 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | less | 590-2.el9_2 | ELSA-2023-3725 |
Advisories 11
- ALSA-2023:3725 Moderate: less security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-2031 Xerox FreeFlow Print Server: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 11, 2026
- RHSA-2023:3725 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Aug 9, 2026
- USN-5848-1 less vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 10, 2026
- RLSA-2023:3725 Moderate: less security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:0348-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12671-1 less-608-2.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 7, 2025
- WID-SEC-2024-1591 Juniper JUNOS: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 11, 2024
- ALAS2023-2023-123 Important: less security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Feb 29, 2024
- WID-SEC-2023-1529 less: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Denial of Service BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 9, 2023
- ELSA-2023-3725 Moderate: less security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jun 21, 2023
References
- https://github.com/gwsw/less/commit/a78e1351113cef564d790a730d657a321624d79c
- http://www.greenwoodsoftware.com/less/news.609.html
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2023/02/07/7
- [oss-security] 20230207 CVE-2022-46663: less -R filtering bypass mailing-list
- FEDORA-2023-71442d7613 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202310-11 vendor-advisory