OS command injection in Exuberant Ctags
Priority LOW 35CWE-78Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CISA ADP. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
A flaw was found in Exuberant Ctags in the way it handles the "-o" option. This option specifies the tag filename. A crafted tag filename specified in the command line or in the configuration file results in arbitrary command execution because the externalSortTags() in sort.c calls the system(3) function in an unsafe way.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00608 49th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 2 fixed, 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Exuberant Ctags | All versions are affected | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- Exuberant Ctags Vendor— Affected All versions are affected Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 2
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:exuberant_ctags_project:exuberant_ctags:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | all versions | Vulnerable | Exuberant Ctags Project |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:exuberant_ctags_project:exuberant_ctags:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions all versions Vulnerable ·Exuberant Ctags Project
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2023:2863 Released 2023-05-16 · Red Hat rating Moderatectags security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) ctags-5.8-23.el8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) ctags-etags-5.8-23.el8
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:2863 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:2863 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2022-4515
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qr9x-29jh-mg6x
References
Sources
- CVE-2022-4515 · CVE Program
- CVE-2022-4515 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qr9x-29jh-mg6x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2022-4515 · 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