The decompression algorithm in zlib 1.1.3 and earlier, as used in many different…
Priority MEDIUM 54CWE-415Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-415 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The decompression algorithm in zlib 1.1.3 and earlier, as used in many different utilities and packages, causes inflateEnd to release certain memory more than once (a "double free"), which may allow local and remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a block of malformed compression data.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.09691 95th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2002:026 Released 2002-03-11 · Red Hat rating Moderate: : : Vulnerability in zlib library
- Red Hat Linux 6.2
- Red Hat Linux 7.0
- Red Hat Linux 7.1
- Red Hat Linux 7.2
- RHSA-2002:027 Released 2002-03-11 · Red Hat rating Moderate: Vulnerability in zlib library (powertools)
- Red Hat Powertools 6.2
- Red Hat Powertools 7.0
- Red Hat Powertools 7.1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Linux 6.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:026 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:026 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:026 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:026 |
| Red Hat Powertools 6.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:027 |
| Red Hat Powertools 7.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:027 |
| Red Hat Powertools 7.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2002:027 |
Not affected: 6 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat JBoss Enterprise Application Platform 6
- Red Hat Software Collections
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2002-0059
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-8894-p74v-5485
References
More Zlib vulnerabilities
- TI-2022-17498 zlib through 1.2.12 has a heap-based buffer over-read or buffer overflow in inflate in… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2018-15259 zlib before 1.2.12 allows memory corruption when deflating (i.e., when compressing) if… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
- TI-2026-17794 zlib <= 1.3.1.2 untgz Global Buffer Overflow in TGZfname() CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 4.6
- TI-2016-07970 inffast.c in zlib 1.2.8 might allow context-dependent attackers to have unspecified… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-21613 zlib before 1.3.2 allows CPU consumption via crc32_combine64 and crc32_combine_gen64… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2003-00102 Buffer overflow in the gzprintf function in zlib 1.1.4, when zlib is compiled without… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2002-0059 · CVE Program
- CVE-2002-0059 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-8894-p74v-5485 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2002-0059 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences