CVE-2018-12020
mainproc.c in GnuPG before 2.2.8 mishandles the original filename during decryption and verification actions, which allows remote attackers to spoof the output that GnuPG sends on file descriptor 2 to other programs that use the "--status-fd 2" option.
Does this matter?
High impact if exploited, but EPSS currently rates exploitation as unlikely (8.25%). Schedule it in the normal patch cycle and watch for a rise in EPSS or a public exploit.
Description
mainproc.c in GnuPG before 2.2.8 mishandles the original filename during decryption and verification actions, which allows remote attackers to spoof the output that GnuPG sends on file descriptor 2 to other programs that use the "--status-fd 2" option. For example, the OpenPGP data might represent an original filename that contains line feed characters in conjunction with GOODSIG or VALIDSIG status codes.
- CVSS 3.1
- 7.5 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
- EPSS
- 8.25% probability · 95th percentile
- Public exploits
- None in Exploit-DB
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Weakness
- CWE-706
- Affected
- redhat/enterprise linux desktop · redhat/enterprise linux server · redhat/enterprise linux server aus · redhat/enterprise linux server eus · redhat/enterprise linux server tus · redhat/enterprise linux workstation · canonical/ubuntu linux · debian/debian linux · gnupg/gnupg
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 8.2% since 27 October 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.
References
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/06/08/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152703/Johnny-You-Are-Fired.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Apr/38Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/04/30/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104450Broken Link
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041051Broken Link
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2180Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2181Third Party Advisory
- https://dev.gnupg.org/T4012Patch, Vendor Advisory
- https://github.com/RUB-NDS/Johnny-You-Are-FiredTechnical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://github.com/RUB-NDS/Johnny-You-Are-Fired/blob/master/paper/johnny-fired.pdfTechnical Description, Third Party Advisory
- https://help.ecostruxureit.com/display/public/UADCE725/Security+fixes+in+StruxureWare+Data+Center+Expert+v7.6.0Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/12/msg00027.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- https://lists.gnupg.org/pipermail/gnupg-announce/2018q2/000425.htmlMailing List, Vendor Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3675-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3675-2/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3675-3/Third Party Advisory
- https://usn.ubuntu.com/3964-1/Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4222Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4223Third Party Advisory
- https://www.debian.org/security/2018/dsa-4224Third Party Advisory
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2018/06/08/2Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/152703/Johnny-You-Are-Fired.htmlThird Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2019/Apr/38Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2019/04/30/4Mailing List, Third Party Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104450Broken Link
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041051Broken Link
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2180Third Party Advisory
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2181Third Party Advisory
- https://dev.gnupg.org/T4012Patch, Vendor Advisory
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.