CVE-2015-0857: Cool Projects TarDiff allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the na

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CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEWATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2015-0857 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting tardiff, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Cool Projects TarDiff allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a (1) tar file or (2) file within a tar file.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action
On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	9.8 (Critical)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	5.4% (top 7%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-77
Published	2016-05-06
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Debian GNU/Linux · Vendor: debian · tardiff project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2016-05-06 17:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:21 UTCUpdated Record last modified

tardiff project tardiff MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

No fixed or unaffected release known

Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

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-2015-0857?

tardiff: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2015-0857 being exploited?

CVE-2015-0857 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-2015-0857 affect?

CVE-2015-0857 affects tardiff, debian linux. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Cool Projects TarDiff allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the name of a (1) tar file or (2) file within a tar file.

How urgent is CVE-2015-0857?

Priority 67/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2015-0858 LOW 3.3 MITIGATE MITIGATE Cool Projects TarDiff allows local users to write to arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a pathname in a /

References

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