CVE-2023-29417: An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 1.2.2

This month

MEDIUM 6.5DOWNGRADE

CVE-2023-29417 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting bzip3. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 1.2.2. There is a bz3_decompress out-of-bounds read in certain situations where buffers passed to bzip3 do not contain enough space to be filled with decompressed data. NOTE: the vendor's perspective is that the observed behavior can only occur for a contract violation, and thus the report is invalid.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	0.8% (top 44%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-125
Published	2023-04-06
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: bzip3 project

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2023-04-06 05:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 05:50 UTCUpdated Record last modified

bzip3 project bzip3 DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.2.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.2.2

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy bzip3 || rpm -q bzip3 || bzip3 --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.2.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison bzip3 sudo apt install bzip3=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2.2> sudo apt-mark hold bzip3

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

dnf --showduplicates list bzip3 sudo dnf downgrade bzip3-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2.2> sudo dnf versionlock add bzip3

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-2023-29417?

bzip3: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2023-29417 being exploited?

CVE-2023-29417 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-2023-29417 affect?

CVE-2023-29417 affects bzip3. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 1.2.2. There is a bz3_decompress out-of-bounds read in certain situations where buffers passed to bzip3 do not contain enough space to be filled with decompressed data. NOTE: the vendor's persp

How urgent is CVE-2023-29417?

Priority 42/100. Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2023-29421 HIGH 8.8 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 before 1.2.3
CVE-2023-29420 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 before 1.2.3
CVE-2023-29419 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 before 1.2.3
CVE-2023-29418 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 before 1.2.3
CVE-2023-29416 MEDIUM 6.5 UPGRADE An issue was discovered in libbzip3.a in bzip3 before 1.3.0

References

← Back to latest CVEs