Description
less through 653 allows OS command execution via a newline character in the name of a file, because quoting is mishandled in filename.c. Exploitation typically requires use with attacker-controlled file names, such as the files extracted from an untrusted archive. Exploitation also requires the LESSOPEN environment variable, but this is set by default in many common cases.
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 | 590-2.1 | — |
| Debian 13 | less | 590-2.1 | — |
| Debian 12 | less | 590-2.1~deb12u2 | DSA-5679-1 |
| Debian 11 | less | 551-2+deb11u2 | DSA-5679-1 |
| Debian 10 | less | 487-0.1+deb10u1 | DLA-3823-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | less | 590-2ubuntu2.1 | USN-6756-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | less | 590-1ubuntu0.22.04.3 | USN-6756-1 |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | less | 551-1ubuntu0.3 | USN-6756-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | less | 487-0.1ubuntu0.1~esm2 | USN-6756-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | less | 481-2.1ubuntu0.2+esm2 | USN-6756-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | less | 458-2ubuntu0.1~esm1 | USN-6756-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | less | 590-4.el9_4 | RHSA-2024:3513 |
| RHEL 8 | less | 530-3.el8_10 | RHSA-2024:4256 |
| RHEL 7 | less | 458-10.el7_9 | RHSA-2024:3669 |
Show 10 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9.2 EUS | less | 590-3.el9_2 | RHSA-2024:4529 |
| RHEL 9.0 E4S | less | 590-2.el9_0 | RHSA-2024:4528 |
| RHEL 8.8 EUS | less | 530-3.el8_8 | RHSA-2024:4369 |
| RHEL 8.6 TUS | less | 530-3.el8_6 | RHSA-2024:4418 |
| RHEL 8.6 E4S | less | 530-3.el8_6 | RHSA-2024:4418 |
| RHEL 8.6 AUS | less | 530-3.el8_6 | RHSA-2024:4418 |
| RHEL 8.4 TUS | less | 530-2.el8_4 | RHSA-2024:4416 |
| RHEL 8.4 E4S | less | 530-2.el8_4 | RHSA-2024:4416 |
| RHEL 8.4 AUS | less | 530-2.el8_4 | RHSA-2024:4416 |
| RHEL 8.2 AUS | less | 530-2.el8_2 | RHSA-2024:4366 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 9 | less | 590-4.el9_4 | ALSA-2024:3513 |
| AlmaLinux 8 | less | 530-3.el8_10 | ALSA-2024:4256 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 9 | less | 590-4.el9_4 | RLSA-2024:3513 |
| Rocky Linux 8 | less | 530-3.el8_10 | RLSA-2024:4256 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP6 | less | 643-150600.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2060-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | less | 458-7.15.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1550-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | less | 458-7.15.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1550-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | less | 668-slfo.1.1_1.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20394-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | less | 633-3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20007-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-2, SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | less | 530-150000.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | less | 668-2.1 | openSUSE-SU-2025:14862-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | less | 643-150600.3.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:2060-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
Show 2 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.4 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
| openSUSE Leap Micro 5.3 | less | 590-150400.3.9.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | less | 608-2.amzn2023.0.2 | ALAS2023-2024-622 |
| Amazon Linux 2 | less | 458-9.amzn2.0.4 | ALAS2-2024-2547 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | less | 643-2 | — |
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | less | 590-4 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | less | 590-4.el9_4 | ELSA-2024-3513 |
| Oracle Linux 8 | less | 530-3.el8_10 | ELSA-2024-4256 |
| Oracle Linux 7 | less | 458-10.el7_9 | ELSA-2024-3669 |
Advisories 33
- ALSA-2024:3513 Important: less security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- ALSA-2024:4256 Important: less security update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-6756-1 less vulnerability Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- RHSA-2024:3669 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20394-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20007-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- RHSA-2024:3513 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4418 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4529 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4528 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4416 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4369 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4366 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- RHSA-2024:4256 Red Hat Security Advisory: less security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Mar 18, 2026
- DSA-5679-1 less - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-3823-1 less - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- RLSA-2024:3513 Important: less security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Feb 5, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:2060-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1598-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1550-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1598-2 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:1534-1 Security update for less SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2025:14862-1 less-668-2.1 on GA media 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-2024-0880 less: Schwachstelle ermöglicht Codeausführung BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 27, 2025
- WID-SEC-2025-0225 Dell PowerProtect Data Domain: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Oct 1, 2025
- RLSA-2024:4256 Important: less security update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · May 7, 2025
- ELSA-2024-4256 Important: less security update (Oracle Linux 8) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 2, 2024
- ELSA-2024-3669 Important: less security update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jun 6, 2024
- ELSA-2024-3513 Important: less security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 30, 2024
- ALAS2-2024-2547 Important: less security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · May 29, 2024
- ALAS2023-2024-622 Important: less security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · May 28, 2024
References
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/04/13/2
- https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/04/12/5
- https://github.com/gwsw/less/commit/007521ac3c95bc76e3d59c6dbfe75d06c8075c33
- [oss-security] 20240415 Re: less(1) with LESSOPEN mishandles \n in paths mailing-list
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240605-0009/
- [debian-lts-announce] 20240527 [SECURITY] [DLA 3823-1] less security update mailing-list