CVE-2026-24857: `bulk_extractor` is a digital forensics exploitation tool

This week

CRITICAL 9.8REMOTEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2026-24857 is a critical-severity flaw (CVSS 9.8) affecting bulk extractor. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

`bulk_extractor` is a digital forensics exploitation tool. Starting in version 1.4, `bulk_extractor`’s embedded unrar code has a heap‑buffer‑overflow in the RAR PPM LZ decoding path. A crafted RAR inside a disk image causes an out‑of‑bounds write in `Unpack::CopyString`, leading to a crash under ASAN (and likely a crash or memory corruption in production builds). There's potential for using this for RCE. As of time of publication, no known patche

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	0.4% (top 62%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-122, CWE-787
Published	2026-01-28
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): GitHub, Inc. · Vendor: simsong

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2026-01-28 22:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 10:23 UTCUpdated Record last modified

simsong bulk extractor DOWNGRADE

Affected: >= 1.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.4

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy bulk-extractor || rpm -q bulk-extractor || bulk-extractor --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison bulk-extractor sudo apt install bulk-extractor=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.4> sudo apt-mark hold bulk-extractor

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

dnf --showduplicates list bulk-extractor sudo dnf downgrade bulk-extractor-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.4> sudo dnf versionlock add bulk-extractor

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-2026-24857?

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

Is CVE-2026-24857 being exploited?

CVE-2026-24857 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-2026-24857 affect?

CVE-2026-24857 affects bulk extractor. Severity is critical (CVSS 9.8). `bulk_extractor` is a digital forensics exploitation tool. Starting in version 1.4, `bulk_extractor`’s embedded unrar code has a heap‑buffer‑overflow in the RAR PPM LZ decoding path. A crafted RAR inside a disk image causes an out‑of‑bounds

How urgent is CVE-2026-24857?

Priority 54/100. Critical severity; Public exploit reference; Remotely exploitable, no login, no user action

References

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