CVE-2012-4406: OpenStack Object Storage (swift) before 1.7.0 uses the loads function in the pickle Python module unsafely whe

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2012-4406 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting swift, fedora, gluster storage management console. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

OpenStack Object Storage (swift) before 1.7.0 uses the loads function in the pickle Python module unsafely when storing and loading metadata in memcached, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted pickle object.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	6.6% (top 6%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-502
Published	2012-10-22
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: fedoraproject · openstack · redhat

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2012-10-22 23:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:44 UTCUpdated Record last modified

openstack swift UPGRADE

Affected: < 1.7.0

Fixed in: 1.7.0

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 1.7.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade swift

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade swift

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 16

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 16

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.

redhat gluster storage management console DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gluster-storage-management-console || rpm -q gluster-storage-management-console || gluster-storage-management-console --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison gluster-storage-management-console sudo apt install gluster-storage-management-console=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold gluster-storage-management-console

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

dnf --showduplicates list gluster-storage-management-console sudo dnf downgrade gluster-storage-management-console-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add gluster-storage-management-console

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.

redhat gluster storage server for on-premise DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise || rpm -q gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise || gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise sudo apt install gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise

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

dnf --showduplicates list gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise sudo dnf downgrade gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add gluster-storage-server-for-on-premise

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.

redhat storage DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison storage sudo apt install storage=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold storage

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

dnf --showduplicates list storage sudo dnf downgrade storage-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add storage

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.

redhat storage for public cloud DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy storage-for-public-cloud || rpm -q storage-for-public-cloud || storage-for-public-cloud --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison storage-for-public-cloud sudo apt install storage-for-public-cloud=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold storage-for-public-cloud

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

dnf --showduplicates list storage-for-public-cloud sudo dnf downgrade storage-for-public-cloud-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add storage-for-public-cloud

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-2012-4406?

swift: upgrade to 1.7.0; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; gluster storage management console: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2012-4406 being exploited?

CVE-2012-4406 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-2012-4406 affect?

CVE-2012-4406 affects swift, fedora, gluster storage management console. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). OpenStack Object Storage (swift) before 1.7.0 uses the loads function in the pickle Python module unsafely when storing and loading metadata in memcached, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted pickle object.

How urgent is CVE-2012-4406?

Priority 68/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 6%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Python vulnerabilities · Memcached vulnerabilities · OpenStack vulnerabilities · Swift vulnerabilities

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References

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