# CVE-2013-6435: Race condition in n/a > Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by exploiting a race condition during the installation of crafted RPM files before signature validation. - **Severity:** High 7.6 (`AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`) - **Exploited in the wild:** Not known - **Login needed:** Not needed - **Attackable:** Over the internet - **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something - **Fix available:** Yes - **Published:** 16 Dec 2014 - **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024 - **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2013-6435, GHSA-qww5-w98g-66q7, RHSA-2014:1974, RHSA-2014:1975, UBUNTU-CVE-2013-6435 ## What is CVE-2013-6435? CVE-2013-6435 is a high-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 16 Dec 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. ### Official description Race condition in RPM 4.11.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPM file whose installation extracts the contents to temporary files before validating the signature, as demonstrated by installing a file in the /etc/cron.d directory. Weakness: CWE-74 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component) ## Which versions are affected by CVE-2013-6435? It affects 2 products. | Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | `popt` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | All versions | 0:1.10.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-python` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-apidocs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-build` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `popt` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:1.10.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-apidocs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-build` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm-python` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::server | All versions | 0:4.4.2.3-36.el5_11 | | `rpm` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-apidocs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-build` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-cron` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-python` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::client | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-apidocs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-build` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-cron` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-python` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::computenode | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-apidocs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-build` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-cron` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | | `rpm-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:6::server | All versions | 0:4.8.0-38.el6_6 | Products: Debian Debian Linux, Rpm Rpm. ## How do I fix CVE-2013-6435? Apply the vendor's patch. ## Is CVE-2013-6435 being exploited? There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-6435 in the wild and no public exploit code. ## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux - [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) - [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild) ## Fix prompt for AI coding agents ```text Check this codebase for CVE-2013-6435 and fix it if it is affected. What it is: CVE-2013-6435 is a high-severity vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 16 Dec 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link. Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2013-6435 in the wild and no public exploit code. Affected product: Debian Debian 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-2013-6435/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6435/index.md) ``` ## Sources - CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2013-6435 - NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2013-6435 - OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2013-6435 --- From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6435/ Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.