Description
libcue provides an API for parsing and extracting data from CUE sheets. Versions 2.2.1 and prior are vulnerable to out-of-bounds array access. A user of the GNOME desktop environment can be exploited by downloading a cue sheet from a malicious webpage. Because the file is saved to `~/Downloads`, it is then automatically scanned by tracker-miners. And because it has a .cue filename extension, tracker-miners use libcue to parse the file. The file exploits the vulnerability in libcue to gain code execution. This issue is patched in version 2.3.0.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| lipnitsk | libcue | <= 2.2.1 | — |
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 | libcue | 2.2.1-4.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | libcue | 2.2.1-4.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | libcue | 2.2.1-4+deb12u1 | DSA-5524-1 |
| Debian 11 | libcue | 2.2.1-3+deb11u1 | DSA-5524-1 |
| Debian 10 | libcue | 2.2.1-2+deb10u1 | DLA-3615-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | libcue | 2.2.1-4ubuntu1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | libcue | 2.2.1-3ubuntu0.1 | USN-6423-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | libcue | 2.2.1-2ubuntu0.1 | USN-6423-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | libcue | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | libcue | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | libcue | 2.1.0-150000.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | libcue | 2.2.1-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | libcue | 2.2.1-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | libcue | 2.2.1-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | libcue | 2.2.1-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | libcue | 2.2.1-r2 | — |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | libcue | 2.2.1-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | libcue | 2.2.1-r0 | — |
Advisories 5
- USN-6423-1 libcue vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 27, 2026
- DSA-5524-1 libcue - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-3615-1 libcue - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2023:4090-1 Security update for libcue SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- WID-SEC-2023-2601 GNOME (libcue): Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 17, 2023
References
- https://github.blog/2023-10-09-coordinated-disclosure-1-click-rce-on-gnome-cve-2023-43641/
- https://github.com/lipnitsk/libcue/security/advisories/GHSA-5982-x7hv-r9cj
- https://github.com/lipnitsk/libcue/commit/cfb98a060fd79dbc3463d85f0f29c3c335dfa0ea
- https://github.com/lipnitsk/libcue/commit/fdf72c8bded8d24cfa0608b8e97f2eed210a920e
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/57JEYTRFG4PVGZZ7HIEFTX5I7OONFFMI/
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/10/msg00018.html
- https://www.debian.org/security/2023/dsa-5524
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PGQOMFDBXGM3DOICCXKCUS76OTKTSPMN/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/XUS4HTNGGGUIFLYSKTODCRIOXLX5HGV3/
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/176128/libcue-2.2.1-Out-Of-Bounds-Access.html