---
title: "CVE-2019-9923\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-9923?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2019-9923

Publication date 22 March 2019

Last updated 7 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Low**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

## Cvss 3 Severity Score

**7.5 · High**

[Score breakdown](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-9923?format=md#impact-score)

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## Description

pax\_decode\_header in sparse.c in GNU Tar before 1.32 had a NULL pointer
dereference when parsing certain archives that have malformed extended
headers.

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| tar | 22.04 LTS jammy | Not affected |
| 21.10 impish | Ignored end of life |
| 21.04 hirsute | Ignored end of life |
| 20.10 groovy | Fixed 1.30+dfsg-7ubuntu0.20.10.1 |
| 20.04 LTS focal | Fixed 1.30+dfsg-7ubuntu0.20.04.1 |
| 19.10 eoan | Ignored end of life |
| 19.04 disco | Ignored end of life |
| 18.10 cosmic | Ignored end of life |
| 18.04 LTS bionic | Fixed 1.29b-2ubuntu0.2 |
| 16.04 LTS xenial | Fixed 1.28-2.1ubuntu0.2 |
| 14.04 LTS trusty | Fixed 1.27.1-1ubuntu0.1+esm1  Ubuntu Pro |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2019-9923?format=md#patch-details)

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### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| tar | * Upstream:   [?id=cb0](http://git.savannah.gnu.org/cgit/tar.git/commit/?id=cb07844454d8cc9fb21f53ace75975f91185a120) |

## Severity score breakdown

CVSS version:
CVSS v3.0

**Base score**

7.5 · High

* Base metrics

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Attack vector | Network |
  | Attack complexity | Low |
  | Privileges required | None |
  | User interaction | None |
  | Scope | Unchanged |
  | Confidentiality impact | None |
  | Integrity impact | None |
  | Availability impact | High |
* Scores

  | Parameter | Value |
  | --- | --- |
  | Base score | 7.5 · High |
  | Exploitability score | - |
  | Impact score | - |

**Vector:** CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2019-9923)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-9923)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2019-9923)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2019-9923)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-4692-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-4692-1)
+ tar vulnerabilities
+ 13 January 2021

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-9923>