CVE-2022-45639: OS Command injection vulnerability in sleuthkit fls tool 4.11.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands

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HIGH 7.8DOWNGRADE

CVE-2022-45639 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.8) affecting the sleuth kit. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

OS Command injection vulnerability in sleuthkit fls tool 4.11.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted value to the m parameter. NOTE: third parties have disputed this because there is no analysis showing that the backtick command executes outside the context of the user account that entered the command line.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.8 (High)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	4.7% (top 8%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-78
Published	2023-01-24
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: sleuthkit

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-01-24 02:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:10 UTCUpdated Record last modified

sleuthkit the sleuth kit DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.11.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.11.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy the-sleuth-kit || rpm -q the-sleuth-kit || the-sleuth-kit --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.11.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison the-sleuth-kit sudo apt install the-sleuth-kit=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.11.1> sudo apt-mark hold the-sleuth-kit

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

dnf --showduplicates list the-sleuth-kit sudo dnf downgrade the-sleuth-kit-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.11.1> sudo dnf versionlock add the-sleuth-kit

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.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: sleuthkit 4.11.1 - Command Injection

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-2022-45639?

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

Is CVE-2022-45639 being exploited?

CVE-2022-45639 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-2022-45639 affect?

CVE-2022-45639 affects the sleuth kit. Severity is high (CVSS 7.8). OS Command injection vulnerability in sleuthkit fls tool 4.11.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted value to the m parameter. NOTE: third parties have disputed this because there is no analysis showing that the back

How urgent is CVE-2022-45639?

Priority 55/100. High severity; EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2026-40024 HIGH 7.1 UPGRADE The Sleuth Kit through 4.14.0 contains a path traversal vulnerability in tsk_recover that allows an attacker t
CVE-2026-40025 MEDIUM 4.4 UPGRADE The Sleuth Kit through 4.14.0 contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the APFS filesystem keybag parse
CVE-2026-40026 MEDIUM 4.4 UPGRADE The Sleuth Kit through 4.14.0 contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the ISO9660 filesystem parser wh
CVE-2020-10233 CRITICAL 9.1 UPGRADE In version 4.8.0 and earlier of The Sleuth Kit (TSK), there is a heap-based buffer over-read in ntfs_dinode_lo
CVE-2020-10232 CRITICAL 9.8 UPGRADE MITIGATE In version 4.8.0 and earlier of The Sleuth Kit (TSK), there is a stack buffer overflow vulnerability in the YA

References

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