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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2019-9923

pax_decode_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer dereference when parsing certain archives that have malformed extended headers.

Published Mar 22, 2019 · catalog updated Oct 14, 2026 · pax_decode_header in sparse.c in

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2019-9923. EPSS is 3.13%. Act only if a listed version of pax_decode_header in sparse.c in is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (pax_decode_header in sparse.c in).
  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Severity
High7.5
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
3.13%
Remediation
Advisory link
Affected products
cpe gnu/tar · cpe opensuse/leap

pax_decode_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer dereference when parsing certain archives that have malformed extended headers.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe gnu/tarversion unspecified
  • cpe opensuse/leap15.0

How to fix CVE-2019-9923

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2019-9923. EPSS is 3.13%. Act only if a listed version of pax_decode_header in sparse.c in is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with 15.0. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference. EPSS 3.13%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Mar 22, 2019 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    pax_decode_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer dereference when parsing certain archives that have malformed extended headers.

  2. Oct 14, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    pax_decode_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer dereference when parsing certain archives that have malformed extended headers.

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2019-9923

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2019-9923

    30-day exploitation probability 3.1%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2019-9923

    pax_decode_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer dereference when parsing certain archives that have malformed extended headers.

    nvd.nist.gov

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 16, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.