CVE-2012-4409

CVE-2012-4409 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Mcrypt with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 15% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the check_file_head function in extra.c in mcrypt 2.6.8 and earlier allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an encrypted file with a crafted header containing long salt data that is not properly handled during decryption.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-4409?
Stack-based buffer overflow in the check_file_head function in extra.c in mcrypt 2.6.8 and earlier allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an encrypted file with a crafted header containing long salt data that is not properly handled during decryption.
How severe is CVE-2012-4409?
CVE-2012-4409 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2012-4409 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 15% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2012-4409?
CVE-2012-4409 primarily affects Mcrypt. In total, 5 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2012-4409?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2012-4409 published?
CVE-2012-4409 was published on 2012-11-21 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (5)

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