PatchTheCVECVE-2012-1423: The TAR file parser in Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.1.0.1, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117,
40
This week
MEDIUM 4.3DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE
CVE-2012-1423 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.3) affecting command antivirus, anti-malware, 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 Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.1.0.1, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, Ikarus Virus Utilities T3 Command Line Scanner 1.1.97.0, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, NOD32 Antivirus 5795, Norman Antivirus 6.06.12, PC Tools AntiVirus 7.0.3.5, Rising Antivirus 22.83.00.03, and VirusBuster 13.6.151.0 allows remote attackers to bypass malware detection via a POSIX TAR file with an initial MZ char
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 | 89.7% (top 1%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-264 |
| Published | 2012-03-21 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-16 |
Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated 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.
emsisoft anti-malware DOWNGRADE
Affected: 5.1.0.1
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.1.0.1
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy anti-malware || rpm -q anti-malware || anti-malware --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.1.0.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison anti-malware
sudo apt install anti-malware=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.1.0.1>
sudo apt-mark hold anti-malware
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list anti-malware
sudo dnf downgrade anti-malware-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.1.0.1>
sudo dnf versionlock add anti-malware
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.
ikarus ikarus virus utilities t3 command line scanner DOWNGRADE
Affected: 1.1.97.0
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.1.97.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner || rpm -q ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner || ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.1.97.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner
sudo apt install ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1.97.0>
sudo apt-mark hold ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner
sudo dnf downgrade ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1.97.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add ikarus-virus-utilities-t3-command-line-scanner
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.
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-2012-1423?
command antivirus: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; anti-malware: 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-2012-1423 being exploited?
CVE-2012-1423 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-2012-1423 affect?
CVE-2012-1423 affects command antivirus, anti-malware, nod32 antivirus. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.3). The TAR file parser in Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, Emsisoft Anti-Malware 5.1.0.1, F-Prot Antivirus 4.6.2.117, Fortinet Antivirus 4.2.254.0, Ikarus Virus Utilities T3 Command Line Scanner 1.1.97.0, K7 AntiVirus 9.77.3565, NOD32 Antivirus 579
How urgent is CVE-2012-1423?
Priority 40/100. EPSS top 1%: very likely to be exploited
Software pages
Fortinet vulnerabilities · ESET vulnerabilities
Related CVEs
- CVE-2012-1463 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The ELF file parser in AhnLab V3 Internet Security 2011.01.18.00, Bitdefender 7.2, Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHe
- CVE-2012-1461 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The Gzip file parser in AVG Anti-Virus 10.0.0.1190, Bitdefender 7.2, Command Antivirus 5.2.11.5, Emsisoft Anti
- CVE-2012-1460 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The Gzip file parser in Antiy Labs AVL SDK 2.0.3.7, Quick Heal (aka Cat QuickHeal) 11.00, Command Antivirus 5.
- CVE-2012-1459 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The TAR file parser in AhnLab V3 Internet Security 2011.01.18.00, Avira AntiVir 7.11.1.163, Antiy Labs AVL SDK
- CVE-2012-1457 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The TAR file parser in Avira AntiVir 7.11.1.163, Antiy Labs AVL SDK 2.0.3.7, avast! Antivirus 4.8.1351.0 and 5