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Vulnerabilities

Security fix · CVE-2026-56288

GNU patch is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference when processing a specially crafted unified-diff patch file.

Published Jul 9, 2026 · catalog updated Nov 5, 2026 · GNU patch is vulnerable

Last checked Nov 5, 2026. A connected source was read within the last 7 days.

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-56288. EPSS is 0.11%. Act only if a listed version of GNU patch is vulnerable is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (GNU patch is vulnerable).
  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Severity
Medium5.5
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
0.11%
Remediation
Advisory link
Affected products
Alpine:v3.24 patch

GNU patch is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference when processing a specially crafted unified-diff patch file. Improper handling of consecutive end-of-file newline markers can corrupt internal hunk (single block of changes in diff) data structures, causing the application to pass a NULL pointer to fwrite() during patch processing. An attacker can trigger this condition with a malicious patch file, causing the utility to crash and resulting in a denial of service. This issue has been fixed in the commit e6d6a4e021660679d7fc9150f981d4920f722313

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.

  • Alpine:v3.24 patch0 → 2.8.1-r0

How to fix CVE-2026-56288

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-2026-56288. EPSS is 0.11%. Act only if a listed version of GNU patch is vulnerable is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with 0 → 2.8.1-r0. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

No weakness class is stored. EPSS 0.11%. 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. Jul 9, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner

    Detected

    GNU patch is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference when processing a specially crafted unified-diff patch file. Improper handling of consecutive end-of-file newline markers can corrupt internal hunk (single block of changes in diff) data structures, causing the application to pass a NULL pointer to fwrite() during patch processing. An attacker can trigger this condition with a malicious patch f

  2. Nov 5, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner

    Fix available

    patch fixed in 2.8.1-r0

  3. Nov 5, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner

    Fix available

    patch fixed in 2.8.1-r0

  4. Nov 5, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner

    Updated

    GNU patch is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference when processing a specially crafted unified-diff patch file. Improper handling of consecutive end-of-file newline markers can corrupt internal hunk (single block of changes in diff) data structures, causing the application to pass a NULL pointer to fwrite() during patch processing. An attacker can trigger this condition with a malicious patch f

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-56288

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • OpenSSF OSV / OSV ScannerPackage advisoryALPINE-CVE-2026-56288
    osv.dev
  • Trivy Vulnerability DBPackage advisoryALPINE-CVE-2026-56288

    GNU patch is vulnerable to a NULL pointer dereference when processing a specially crafted unified-diff patch file. Improper handling of consecutive end-of-file newline markers can corrupt internal hunk (single block of changes in diff) data structures, causing the application to

    osv.dev

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Nov 5, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.

  • CVE.orgNov 5, 2026
  • Trivy Vulnerability DBNov 5, 2026
  • OpenSSF OSV / OSV ScannerNov 5, 2026