CVE-2026-24857Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Process crash via unchecked PPM LZ length

Published Jan 28, 2026 · Updated Jan 28, 2026

Heap-based buffer overflow in bulk_extractor 1.4 through 2.1.1 allows attackers to crash the tool via a crafted RAR in a disk image. Unpack::CopyString validates the source and destination pointers against fixed margins but fails to verify that the attacker-controlled PPM LZ length remains inside its 4 MiB heap window. Exploitation requires an analyst or automated workflow to scan the image with the RAR scanner enabled; the demonstrated result is a process crash, while code execution has not been demonstrated.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.39%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in bulk_extractor 1.4 through 2.1.1 allows attackers to crash the tool via a crafted RAR in a disk image. Unpack::CopyString validates the source and destination pointers against fixed margins but fails to verify that the attacker-controlled PPM LZ length remains inside its 4 MiB heap window. Exploitation requires an analyst or automated workflow to scan the image with the RAR scanner enabled; the demonstrated result is a process crash, while code execution has not been demonstrated.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-24857
Published
Jan 28, 2026
Updated
Jan 28, 2026
Vendor
Simson Garfinkel
Product
bulk_extractor
Classifications
CWE-787, CWE-122, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>= 1.4, <= 2.1.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Simson Garfinkel · bulk_extractorversion=>= 1.4, <= 2.1.1

Published CVSS scores

9.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5GitHub, Inc.CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:P

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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