CVE-2013-4402: Input Validation
The compressed packet parser in GnuPG 1.4.x before 1.4.15 and 2.0.x before 2.0.22 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite recursion) via a crafted OpenPGP message.
Other sources
Werner Koch reports:
We are pleased to announce the availability of a new stable GnuPG-2 release: Version 2.0.22. This is a security fix release and all users are advised to updated to this version. See below for the impact of the problem.
What's New in 2.0.22 ====================
Fixed possible infinite recursion in the compressed packet parser. [CVE-2013-4402]
Impact of the security problem ==============================
Special crafted input data may be used to cause a denial of service against GPG (GnuPG's OpenPGP part) and some other OpenPGP implementations. All systems using GPG to process incoming data are affected.
Taylor R Campbell invented a neat trick to generate OpenPGP packages to force GPG to recursively parse certain parts of OpenPGP messages ad infinitum. As a workaround a tight "ulimit -v" setting may be used to mitigate the problem. Sample input data to trigger this problem has not yet been seen in the wild. Details of the attack will eventually be published by its inventor.
A fixed release of the GnuPG 1.4 series will be releases soon.
— Red Hat
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2013-4402?
CVE-2013-4402 is classified as a denial of service vulnerability due to infinite recursion in the GnuPG compressed packet parser.
How do I fix CVE-2013-4402?
To fix CVE-2013-4402, upgrade GnuPG to version 1.4.15 or later for the 1.4.x series or to version 2.0.22 or later for the 2.0.x series.
What versions of GnuPG are affected by CVE-2013-4402?
GnuPG versions 1.4.0 to 1.4.14 and 2.0.0 to 2.0.21 are affected by CVE-2013-4402.
Can CVE-2013-4402 lead to data loss?
CVE-2013-4402 primarily causes denial of service, but unexpected behavior in crypto implementations may pose a risk of data loss.
Is my system vulnerable to CVE-2013-4402?
If you are using GnuPG versions prior to 1.4.15 or 2.0.22, your system is vulnerable to CVE-2013-4402.