CVE-2005-0638: xloadimage before 4.1-r2, and xli before 1.17, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metach

This month

HIGH 7.5WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2005-0638 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting xli, alt linux, suse linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

xloadimage before 4.1-r2, and xli before 1.17, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in filenames for compressed images, which are not properly quoted when calling the gunzip command.

Why this priority

High severity
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	3.6% (top 11%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2005-03-02
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: altlinux · suse · xli

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2005-03-02 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:11 UTCUpdated Record last modified

xli xli DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.14 · 1.15 · 1.16 · 1.17

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.14

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy xli || rpm -q xli || xli --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.14 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison xli sudo apt install xli=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.14> sudo apt-mark hold xli

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list xli sudo dnf downgrade xli-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.14> sudo dnf versionlock add xli

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

altlinux alt linux MITIGATE

Affected: 2.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.3

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

suse suse linux MITIGATE

Affected: 1.0 · 2.0 · 3.0 · 4.0 · 4.2 · 4.3 · 4.4 · 4.4.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2005-0638?

xli: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; alt linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; suse linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2005-0638 being exploited?

CVE-2005-0638 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2005-0638 affect?

CVE-2005-0638 affects xli, alt linux, suse linux. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). xloadimage before 4.1-r2, and xli before 1.17, allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in filenames for compressed images, which are not properly quoted when calling the gunzip command.

How urgent is CVE-2005-0638?

Priority 54/100. High severity; On your watchlist

Related CVEs

CVE-2005-3178 MEDIUM 5.1 MITIGATE UPGRADE Buffer overflow in xloadimage 4.1 and earlier, and xli, might allow user-assisted attackers to execute arbitra
CVE-2005-0639 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE Multiple vulnerabilities in xli before 1.17 may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via "buffer m
CVE-2001-0775 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Buffer overflow in xloadimage 4.1 (aka xli 1.16 and 1.17) in Linux allows remote attackers to execute arbitrar

References

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