CVE-2012-4409
Stack-based buffer overflow in the check_file_head function in extra.c in mcrypt 2.6.8 and earlier allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an encrypted file with a crafted header containing long salt data that is not properly…
Does this matter?
EPSS puts the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days at 15.1%, higher than 97% of all known CVEs. Patch or mitigate before the next change window.
Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the check_file_head function in extra.c in mcrypt 2.6.8 and earlier allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an encrypted file with a crafted header containing long salt data that is not properly handled during decryption.
- CVSS 2.0
- 6.8 MEDIUMAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
- EPSS
- 15.08% probability · 97th percentile
- Public exploits
- 2 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 26 November 2012
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-119
- Affected
- mcrypt/mcrypt
- Source
- secalert@redhat.com
EPSS 15.1% since 4 November 2026; no change recorded yet. The dashed line is the ten per cent mark our analysts treat as “patch before the next change window”. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (2)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/086519.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/087542.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/088281.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.org/files/116268/mcrypt-2.6.8-Buffer-Overflow-Proof-Of-Concept.htmlExploit
- http://secunia.com/advisories/50507Vendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51010
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/09/06/4
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027532
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=855029
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/086519.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/087542.html
- http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-September/088281.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.org/files/116268/mcrypt-2.6.8-Buffer-Overflow-Proof-Of-Concept.htmlExploit
- http://secunia.com/advisories/50507Vendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/51010
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2012/09/06/4
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1027532
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=855029
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.