Description
GNU Tar through 1.30, when --sparse is used, mishandles file shrinkage during read access, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (infinite read loop in sparse_dump_region in sparse.c) by modifying a file that is supposed to be archived by a different user's process (e.g., a system backup running as root).
Published: 2018-12-26
Score: 4.7 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

No analysis available yet.

Remediation

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Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-1623-1 tar security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-2830-1 tar security update
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2018-13036 GNU Tar through 1.30, when --sparse is used, mishandles file shrinkage during read access, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (infinite read loop in sparse_dump_region in sparse.c) by modifying a file that is supposed to be archived by a different user's process (e.g., a system backup running as root).
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-4692-1 tar vulnerabilities
History

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 07:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: mitre

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-14T06:30:41.972Z

Reserved: 2018-12-26T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2018-20482

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2018-12-26T18:29:00.373

Modified: 2026-10-14T07:16:43.667

Link: CVE-2018-20482

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Low

Publid Date: 2018-12-26T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2018-20482 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses
  • CWE-835

    Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')