An Invalid Pointer vulnerability exists in GNU patch 2.7 via the another_hunk function…
Priority LOW 26CWE-763Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
An Invalid Pointer vulnerability exists in GNU patch 2.7 via the another_hunk function, which causes a Denial of Service.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.00759 55th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Deferred Red Hat: fix deferred
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
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: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-45261
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-5wqw-cqhv-q8cv
References
Exploit 1
More GNU Patch vulnerabilities
- TI-2015-01271 Directory traversal vulnerability in GNU patch versions which support Git-style patching… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2018-05076 A double free exists in the another_hunk function in pch.c in GNU patch through 2.7.6. CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2018-05075 An issue was discovered in GNU patch through 2.7.6. CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2018-15808 GNU Patch version 2.7.6 contains an input validation vulnerability when processing patch… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2019-10248 GNU patch through 2.7.6 is vulnerable to OS shell command injection that can be exploited… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2018-14931 do_ed_script in pch.c in GNU patch through 2.7.6 does not block strings beginning with a… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-45261 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-45261 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5wqw-cqhv-q8cv · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-45261 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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