Description
libxls through version 1.6.3 contains a use of uninitialized memory vulnerability in the OLE container parser. Memory allocated for the Master Sector Allocation Table (MSAT) in read_MSAT() is not fully initialized before being consumed by ole2_validate_sector_chain(), which may result in application crashes or potential information disclosure when processing a crafted XLS file
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 | r-cran-readxl | 1.6.0-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 26.10 | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | r-cran-readxl | No fix yet | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | libxls | 1.6.4-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:12110-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | libxls | 1.6.4-bp160.1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:22128-1 |
Advisories 2
- openSUSE-SU-2026:22128-1 Security update for libxls SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 20, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12110-1 libxls-devel-1.6.4-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Oct 13, 2026