CVE-2022-28550: Matthias-Wandel/jhead jhead 3.06 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via shellescape(), jhead.c, jhead

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2022-28550 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting jhead. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Matthias-Wandel/jhead jhead 3.06 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via shellescape(), jhead.c, jhead. jhead copies strings to a stack buffer when it detects a &i or &o. However, jhead does not check the boundary of the stack buffer. As a result, there will be a stack buffer overflow problem when multiple `&i` or `&o` are given.

Why this priority

Critical severity
Public exploit reference
Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

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	1.0% (top 36%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-787, CWE-120
Published	2023-06-13
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: jhead project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-06-13 20:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 04:38 UTCUpdated Record last modified

jhead project jhead DOWNGRADE

Affected: 3.06

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.06

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.06 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison jhead sudo apt install jhead=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.06> sudo apt-mark hold jhead

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

dnf --showduplicates list jhead sudo dnf downgrade jhead-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.06> sudo dnf versionlock add jhead

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-2022-28550?

jhead: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2022-28550 being exploited?

CVE-2022-28550 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-2022-28550 affect?

CVE-2022-28550 affects jhead. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). Matthias-Wandel/jhead jhead 3.06 is vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via shellescape(), jhead.c, jhead. jhead copies strings to a stack buffer when it detects a &i or &o. However, jhead does not check the boundary of the stack buffer. As a res

How urgent is CVE-2022-28550?

Priority 60/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

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CVE-2021-28277 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilty exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 is affected by: Buffer Overflow via th

References

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