CVE-2012-1988

CVE-2012-1988 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Puppet with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-78.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.0)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (84th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-78
• Affected product: Puppet
• Published: 2012-05-29
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Puppet 2.6.x before 2.6.15 and 2.7.x before 2.7.13, and Puppet Enterprise (PE) Users 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.x, 2.0.x, and 2.5.x before 2.5.1 allows remote authenticated users with agent SSL keys and file-creation permissions on the puppet master to execute arbitrary commands by creating a file whose full pathname contains shell metacharacters, then performing a filebucket request.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-1988?

Puppet 2.6.x before 2.6.15 and 2.7.x before 2.7.13, and Puppet Enterprise (PE) Users 1.0, 1.1, 1.2.x, 2.0.x, and 2.5.x before 2.5.1 allows remote authenticated users with agent SSL keys and file-creation permissions on the puppet master to execute arbitrary commands by creating a file whose full pathname contains shell metacharacters, then performing a filebucket request.

How severe is CVE-2012-1988?

CVE-2012-1988 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.0, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2012-1988 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (84th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2012-1988?

CVE-2012-1988 primarily affects Puppet. In total, 12 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2012-1988?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2012-1988 published?

CVE-2012-1988 was published on 2012-05-29 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/079227.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-April/079289.html
• http://lists.fedoraproject.org/pipermail/package-announce/2012-May/080003.html
• http://projects.puppetlabs.com/issues/13518
• http://projects.puppetlabs.com/projects/1/wiki/Release_Notes#2.6.15
• http://puppetlabs.com/security/cve/cve-2012-1988/
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48743
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48748
• http://secunia.com/advisories/48789
• http://secunia.com/advisories/49136
• http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-1419-1
• http://www.debian.org/security/2012/dsa-2451
• http://www.osvdb.org/81309
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/52975
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/74796
• https://hermes.opensuse.org/messages/14523305
• https://hermes.opensuse.org/messages/15087408

Affected products (12)

• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:puppet:puppet_enterprise:1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:6.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:10.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:o:canonical:ubuntu_linux:11.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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