CVE-2021-45261: gnu patch Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference
CVSS: 5.5v3.1MediumModified
AliasesSUSE-SU-2026:0781-1SUSE-SU-2026:20343-1SUSE-SU-2026:20431-1UBUNTU-CVE-2021-45261DEBIAN-CVE-2021-45261openSUSE-SU-2026:10140-1openSUSE-SU-2026:20227-1
Published 22-12-2021Last modified 04-08-2024
Vulnerability summary
CVE-2021-45261 is a medium (CVSS 5.5) Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference vulnerability in gnu patch. EPSS estimates a 0.76% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 54.4% of scored vulnerabilities. 1 public exploit is recorded.
CVSS score
5.5/10
010
Medium · v3.1 (NVD)EPSS score
0.76%
0%100%
Low · +0.05 pp in 30 daysKEVNot listedIn no KEV catalog
RansomwareNone recordedNo known use recorded
Public exploits1reference
Advisory lineage
Upstream 0 · Downstream 3 · Related 3Timeline
- 22-12-2021PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
- 04-08-2024Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.
Description
An Invalid Pointer vulnerability exists in GNU patch 2.7 via the another_hunk function, which causes a Denial of Service.
CVSS metrics
4 scores · 3 sources · 2 versionsMedium 5.5Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HSourcesAll 3 agree
- OSV · UbuntuEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- OSV · DebianEcosystem advisory · calculated5.5MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Medium 4.3Preferred score · NVD (NIST)
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:PSourcesSingle source
EPSS trend
Probability
0.76%
Chance of exploitation in the next 30 days
Percentile
54%
Versus all other CVEs
30-day change
+0.05 pp
From 0.70% on 19-09-2026
19-09-202619-10-2026
EPSS score0.76%
Known exploited
Compare KEV catalogsNot in any of the 3 tracked catalogs.
Public exploits
1 foundExploit Reference (savannah.gnu.org)
Maturity: unknown
Weaknesses
CWE · root causeAffected systems
Suse4 products
- patch&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7< 2.7.6-150000.5.9.1
- patch&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0< 2.7.6-160000.3.1
- patch&distro=SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0< 2.7.6-160000.3.1
- patch&distro=SUSE Linux Micro 6.2< 2.7.6-160000.3.1
Opensuse3 products
- patch&distro=openSUSE Leap 15.6< 2.7.6-150000.5.9.1
- patch&distro=openSUSE Leap 16.0< 2.7.6-160000.3.1
- patch&distro=openSUSE Tumbleweed< 2.8-2.1
Debian1 product
- patchAll versions (No fix recorded)
Gnu1 product
- patch2.7
Ubuntu1 product
- patchAll versions (No fix recorded)
5 vendors · 10 products
