CVE-2012-1420: The TAR file parser in Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.

This week

MEDIUM 4.3DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2012-1420 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.3) affecting command antivirus, quick heal, nod32 antivirus. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The TAR file parser in Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0.0.125, Antimalware Engine 1.1.6402.0 in Microsoft Security Essentials 2.0, NOD32 Antivirus 5795, Norman Antivirus 6.06.12, Panda Antivirus 10.0.2.7, and Rising Antivirus 22.83.00.03 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a POSIX TAR file

Why this priority

EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.3 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	97.1% (top 1%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-264
Published	2012-03-21
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: authentium · cat · eset · f-prot · fortinet · k7computing

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2012-03-21 10:11 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:39 UTCUpdated Record last modified

authentium command antivirus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.2.11.5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.2.11.5

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy command-antivirus || rpm -q command-antivirus || command-antivirus --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.2.11.5 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison command-antivirus sudo apt install command-antivirus=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.2.11.5> sudo apt-mark hold command-antivirus

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

dnf --showduplicates list command-antivirus sudo dnf downgrade command-antivirus-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.2.11.5> sudo dnf versionlock add command-antivirus

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.

cat quick heal DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.00

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.00

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy quick-heal || rpm -q quick-heal || quick-heal --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.00 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison quick-heal sudo apt install quick-heal=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.00> sudo apt-mark hold quick-heal

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

dnf --showduplicates list quick-heal sudo dnf downgrade quick-heal-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.00> sudo dnf versionlock add quick-heal

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.

eset nod32 antivirus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5795

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5795

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy nod32-antivirus || rpm -q nod32-antivirus || nod32-antivirus --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5795 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison nod32-antivirus sudo apt install nod32-antivirus=<VERSION_BEFORE_5795> sudo apt-mark hold nod32-antivirus

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

dnf --showduplicates list nod32-antivirus sudo dnf downgrade nod32-antivirus-<VERSION_BEFORE_5795> sudo dnf versionlock add nod32-antivirus

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.

f-prot f-prot antivirus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.6.2.117

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.6.2.117

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy f-prot-antivirus || rpm -q f-prot-antivirus || f-prot-antivirus --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.6.2.117 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison f-prot-antivirus sudo apt install f-prot-antivirus=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.6.2.117> sudo apt-mark hold f-prot-antivirus

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

dnf --showduplicates list f-prot-antivirus sudo dnf downgrade f-prot-antivirus-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.6.2.117> sudo dnf versionlock add f-prot-antivirus

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.

fortinet fortinet antivirus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.2.254.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.2.254.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy fortinet-antivirus || rpm -q fortinet-antivirus || fortinet-antivirus --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.2.254.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison fortinet-antivirus sudo apt install fortinet-antivirus=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.2.254.0> sudo apt-mark hold fortinet-antivirus

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

dnf --showduplicates list fortinet-antivirus sudo dnf downgrade fortinet-antivirus-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.2.254.0> sudo dnf versionlock add fortinet-antivirus

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.

k7computing antivirus DOWNGRADE

Affected: 9.77.3565

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.77.3565

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 9.77.3565 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison antivirus sudo apt install antivirus=<VERSION_BEFORE_9.77.3565> sudo apt-mark hold antivirus

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

dnf --showduplicates list antivirus sudo dnf downgrade antivirus-<VERSION_BEFORE_9.77.3565> sudo dnf versionlock add antivirus

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.

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-2012-1420?

command antivirus: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; quick heal: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; nod32 antivirus: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-1420 being exploited?

CVE-2012-1420 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-2012-1420 affect?

CVE-2012-1420 affects command antivirus, quick heal, nod32 antivirus. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.3). The TAR file parser in Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, Kaspersky Anti-Virus 7.0.0.125, Antimalware Engine 1.1.6402.0 in Micr

How urgent is CVE-2012-1420?

Priority 40/100. EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited

Software pages

Fortinet vulnerabilities · Kaspersky vulnerabilities · ESET vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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References

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