# CVE-2007-4476: Memory corruption in n/a

> A buffer overflow in GNU tar allows attackers to cause a denial of service via crafted archives, impacting system stability.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 5 Sep 2007
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2007-4476, DSA-1566-1, GHSA-qc9f-9qmm-9663

## What is CVE-2007-4476?

CVE-2007-4476 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 5 Sep 2007. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in the safer_name_suffix function in GNU tar has unspecified attack vectors and impact, resulting in a "crashing stack."

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2007-4476?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Gnu Tar.

## How do I fix CVE-2007-4476?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2007-4476 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2007-4476 exists.

Public exploit code:

- GNU TAR 1.15.91 / CPIO 2.5.90 - 'safer_name_suffix' Remote Denial of Service (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2007-4476 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2007-4476 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 5 Sep 2007. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2007-4476 exists.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-4476/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-4476/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2007-4476
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-4476
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2007-4476

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-4476/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.