The vfprintf function in stdio-common/vfprintf.c in libc in GNU C Library (aka glibc)…
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-189 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The vfprintf function in stdio-common/vfprintf.c in libc in GNU C Library (aka glibc) 2.12 and other versions does not properly calculate a buffer length, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass the FORTIFY_SOURCE format-string protection mechanism and cause a denial of service (stack corruption and crash) via a format string that uses positional parameters and many format specifiers.
Why it matters now
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 · 8
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.12 | Vulnerable | GNU |
| cpe:2.3:a:redhat:enterprise_virtualization:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* | 8.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* | 10.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.10 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* | 12.04 | Vulnerable | Canonical |
| cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Red Hat |
- cpe:2.3:a:gnu:glibc:2.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.12 Vulnerable ·GNU
- cpe:2.3:a:redhat:enterprise_virtualization:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:8.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.10 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:12.04:-:lts:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.04 Vulnerable ·Canonical
- cpe:2.3:o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Red Hat
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2012:1200 Released 2012-08-23 · Red Hat rating Moderaterhev-hypervisor6 security and bug fix update
- RHEV Hypervisor for RHEL-6 rhev-hypervisor6-6.3-20120815.0.el6_3
- RHSA-2012:1098 Released 2012-07-18 · Red Hat rating Moderateglibc security and bug fix update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-common-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3 +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-static-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-common-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3 +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-static-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3.ppc, glibc-common-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-static-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-static-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3.ppc
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-common-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-devel-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3 +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) glibc-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3, glibc-static-2.12-1.80.el6_3.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| RHEV Hypervisor for RHEL-6 | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1200 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1098 |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-3404
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-gm92-3frh-vrww
References
Sources
- CVE-2012-3404 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-3404 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-gm92-3frh-vrww · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-3404 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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