CVE-2006-6169

CVE-2006-6169 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnupg with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

Heap-based buffer overflow in the ask_outfile_name function in openfile.c for GnuPG (gpg) 1.4 and 2.0, when running interactively, might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via messages with "C-escape" expansions, which cause the make_printable_string function to return a longer string than expected while constructing a prompt.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2006-6169?
Heap-based buffer overflow in the ask_outfile_name function in openfile.c for GnuPG (gpg) 1.4 and 2.0, when running interactively, might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via messages with "C-escape" expansions, which cause the make_printable_string function to return a longer string than expected while constructing a prompt.
How severe is CVE-2006-6169?
CVE-2006-6169 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2006-6169 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2006-6169?
CVE-2006-6169 primarily affects Gnupg. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2006-6169?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2006-6169 published?
CVE-2006-6169 was published on 2006-11-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (2)

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