CVE-2012-5642

CVE-2012-5642 is a high-severity vulnerability in Fail2ban with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

server/action.py in Fail2ban before 0.8.8 does not properly handle the content of the matches tag, which might allow remote attackers to trigger unsafe behavior in a custom action file via unspecified symbols in this content.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2012-5642?
server/action.py in Fail2ban before 0.8.8 does not properly handle the content of the matches tag, which might allow remote attackers to trigger unsafe behavior in a custom action file via unspecified symbols in this content.
How severe is CVE-2012-5642?
CVE-2012-5642 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2012-5642 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-2012-5642?
CVE-2012-5642 primarily affects Fail2ban. In total, 34 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2012-5642?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2012-5642 published?
CVE-2012-5642 was published on 2012-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (34)

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