GNU wget up to 1.25.0 Metalink src/metalink.c clean_metalink_string heap-based overflow

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in GNU wget up to 1.25.0. The affected element is the function clean_metalink_string of the file src/metalink.c of the component Metalink Handler. The manipulation leads to heap-based overflow. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-58469. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in GNU wget up to 1.25.0. This issue affects the function clean_metalink_string of the file src/metalink.c of the component Metalink Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a heap-based overflow vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-122. A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc(). Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

GNU Wget through 1.25.0, fixed in commit 37a40fc, contains a heap buffer underread vulnerability in the clean_metalink_string() function within src/metalink.c that allows a malicious server to trigger memory corruption by serving a Metalink document containing a whitespace-only URL. Attackers can cause the function to decrement a pointer past the start of the buffer when processing an all-whitespace Metalink URL, potentially leading to abnormal program behavior.

It is possible to read the advisory at gitlab.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-58469 since 06/30/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/07/2026).

There is no information about possible countermeasures known. It may be suggested to replace the affected object with an alternative product.

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Automation Software

Vendor

• GNU

Name

• wget

Version

• 1.0
• 1.1
• 1.2
• 1.3
• 1.4
• 1.5
• 1.6
• 1.7
• 1.8
• 1.9
• 1.10
• 1.11
• 1.12
• 1.13
• 1.14
• 1.15
• 1.16
• 1.17
• 1.18
• 1.19
• 1.20
• 1.21
• 1.22
• 1.23
• 1.24
• 1.25.0

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.gnu.org/

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