builtins.c in Xinetd before 2.3.15 does not check the service type when the tcpmux-server…
Priority LOW 25CWE-20Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Medium
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · None · None
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
builtins.c in Xinetd before 2.3.15 does not check the service type when the tcpmux-server service is enabled, which exposes all enabled services and allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via a request to tcpmux port 1.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.02747 86th 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
CPE configurations NVD · 10
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.3.14 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.5 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.6 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.7 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.8 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.9 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.10 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.11 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.12 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
| cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.3.13 | Vulnerable | Xinetd |
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.3.14 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.5 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.6 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.7 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.8 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.9 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.10 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.11 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.12 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
- cpe:2.3:a:xinetd:xinetd:2.3.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.3.13 Vulnerable ·Xinetd
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2013:1302 Released 2013-09-30 · Red Hat rating Lowxinetd security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) xinetd-2:2.3.14-19.el5, xinetd-2:2.3.14-19.el5.i386, xinetd-2:2.3.14-19.el5.ia64 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) xinetd-2:2.3.14-19.el5, xinetd-2:2.3.14-19.el5.i386
- RHSA-2013:0499 Released 2013-02-20 · Red Hat rating Lowxinetd security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) xinetd-2:2.3.14-38.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) xinetd-2:2.3.14-38.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) xinetd-2:2.3.14-38.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) xinetd-2:2.3.14-38.el6
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:1302 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:1302 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:0499 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:0499 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:0499 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2013:0499 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-0862
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mv4c-6fpc-r32q
References
Other 6
- [oss-security] 20120509 CVE-2012-0862 assignment notification: xinetd enables unintentional services over tcpmux port
- 81774
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/attachment.cgi?id=583311
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=790940
- [oss-security] 20120510 Re: CVE-2012-0862 assignment notification: xinetd enables unintentional services over tcpmux port
- http://www.xinetd.org/#changes
More Xinetd vulnerabilities
- TI-2001-00788 Buffer overflow in internal string handling routines of xinetd before 2.1.8.8 allows… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2013-03803 xinetd does not enforce the user and group configuration directives for TCPMUX services… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.6
- TI-2001-01341 Multiple vulnerabilities in xinetd 2.3.0 and earlier, and additional variants until… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2000-00535 xinetd 2.1.8.x does not properly restrict connections if hostnames are used for access… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2003-00195 Memory leak in xinetd 2.3.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2001-01275 xinetd 2.1.8 and earlier runs with a default umask of 0, which could allow local users to… CVSS 2.0LOW 3.6
Sources
- CVE-2012-0862 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-0862 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mv4c-6fpc-r32q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-0862 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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