The mtree bidder in libarchive 3.2.1 does not keep track of line sizes when extending the…
Priority LOW 29CWE-125Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-125 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The mtree bidder in libarchive 3.2.1 does not keep track of line sizes when extending the read-ahead, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted file, which triggers an invalid read in the (1) detect_form or (2) bid_entry function in libarchive/archive_read_support_format_mtree.c.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.0198 80th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Will not fix Red Hat: no fix planned
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 · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:libarchive:libarchive:3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.2.1 | Vulnerable | libarchive |
| cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 42.2 | Vulnerable | openSUSE |
- cpe:2.3:a:libarchive:libarchive:3.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.2.1 Vulnerable ·libarchive
- cpe:2.3:o:opensuse:leap:42.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 42.2 Vulnerable ·openSUSE
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2016-8688
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jf7m-wjh4-58hv
References
Patch 9
- [oss-security] 20161015 Re: Libarchive/bsdtar: multiple crashes
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/09/11/libarchive-bsdtar-use-after-free-in-detect_form-archive_read_support_format_mtree-c/
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1377923
- GLSA-201701-03
- https://github.com/libarchive/libarchive/commit/eec077f52bfa2d3f7103b4b74d52572ba8a15aca
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/09/11/libarchive-bsdtar-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-bid_entry-archive_read_support_format_mtree-c/
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/09/11/libarchive-bsdtar-memory-corruptionunknown-crash-in-bid_entry-archive_read_support_format_mtree-c/
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/09/11/libarchive-bsdtar-heap-based-buffer-overflow-in-detect_form-archive_read_support_format_mtree-c/
- https://blogs.gentoo.org/ago/2016/09/11/libarchive-bsdtar-use-after-free-in-bid_entry-archive_read_support_format_mtree-c/
Advisory 1
Sources
- CVE-2016-8688 · CVE Program
- CVE-2016-8688 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jf7m-wjh4-58hv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2016-8688 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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