zlib versions up to and including 1.3.1.2 include a global buffer overflow in the untgz utility located under contrib/untgz. The vulnerability is limited to the standalone demonstration utility and does not affect the core zlib compression library. The flaw occurs when a user executes the untgz command with an excessively long archive name supplied via the command line, leading to an out-of-bounds write in a fixed-size global buffer.
History

Thu, 15 Jan 2026 14:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description zlib versions up to and including 1.3.1.2 contain a global buffer overflow in the untgz utility. The TGZfname() function copies an attacker-supplied archive name from argv[] into a fixed-size 1024-byte static global buffer using an unbounded strcpy() call without length validation. Supplying an archive name longer than 1024 bytes results in an out-of-bounds write that can lead to memory corruption, denial of service, and potentially code execution depending on compiler, build flags, architecture, and memory layout. The overflow occurs prior to any archive parsing or validation. zlib versions up to and including 1.3.1.2 include a global buffer overflow in the untgz utility located under contrib/untgz. The vulnerability is limited to the standalone demonstration utility and does not affect the core zlib compression library. The flaw occurs when a user executes the untgz command with an excessively long archive name supplied via the command line, leading to an out-of-bounds write in a fixed-size global buffer.
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 9.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}

cvssV4_0

{'score': 4.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:L/VI:N/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


Wed, 14 Jan 2026 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-787
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:zlib:zlib:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Mon, 12 Jan 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References

Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 8.6, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important


Thu, 08 Jan 2026 10:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Zlib
Zlib zlib
Vendors & Products Zlib
Zlib zlib

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 22:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'poc', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Wed, 07 Jan 2026 20:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description zlib versions up to and including 1.3.1.2 contain a global buffer overflow in the untgz utility. The TGZfname() function copies an attacker-supplied archive name from argv[] into a fixed-size 1024-byte static global buffer using an unbounded strcpy() call without length validation. Supplying an archive name longer than 1024 bytes results in an out-of-bounds write that can lead to memory corruption, denial of service, and potentially code execution depending on compiler, build flags, architecture, and memory layout. The overflow occurs prior to any archive parsing or validation.
Title zlib <= 1.3.1.2 untgz Global Buffer Overflow in TGZfname()
Weaknesses CWE-120
References
Metrics cvssV4_0

{'score': 9.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: VulnCheck

Published: 2026-01-07T20:25:19.892Z

Updated: 2026-01-15T14:12:13.493Z

Reserved: 2026-01-06T16:47:17.182Z

Link: CVE-2026-22184

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-01-12T08:01:52.956Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2026-01-07T21:16:01.563

Modified: 2026-01-15T14:16:27.047

Link: CVE-2026-22184

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-01-07T20:25:19Z

Links: CVE-2026-22184 - Bugzilla