# CVE-2026-103242: RPM heap-based buffer overflow in RPMTAG_FILESIGNATURES parsing

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-103242-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow-flaw-was-found-in-rpm-rpmtag  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-09-30. Updated: 2026-09-30  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-103242 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.1 · Published 2026-09-30

RPM is a package manager used to install and manage software on Linux systems. A flaw in how RPM processes package headers allows an attacker to craft a malicious RPM file that, when opened with tools like rpm2cpio or rpm -qlvp, triggers a buffer overflow that can crash the program or potentially allow code execution. The vulnerability requires local user action to open the malicious package.

Technologies: [RPM Project RPM](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/rpm). Vendors: [RPM Project](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/rpm-project).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-103242 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-103242 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-103242?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.1, published 30 September 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** RPM Project RPM <UNKNOWN>.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-103242?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-103242 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-103242?** Check whether you run RPM Project RPM at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A heap-based buffer overflow exists in the hex2binv() function when processing RPMTAG_FILESIGNATURES in a crafted RPM package header with an incorrect type declaration. The wrong type causes allocation of a one-byte buffer while allowing attacker-controlled, hex-decoded content of arbitrary length to be written past the buffer boundary. The flaw is reachable via rpm2cpio, rpm2archive, and rpm -qlvp with untrusted packages; exploitation requires local user interaction and results in reliable crashes with potential for code execution via heap metadata corruption.

## Affected products

- RPM Project RPM <UNKNOWN>

## Timeline

- 2026-09-30: disclosed

## References

- [https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/](https://access.redhat.com/downloads/content/package-browser/)
- [https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-103242](https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-103242)

## Related threats

- [RPM command injection in macro expansion of spec file basenames](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-95521-a-command-injection-flaw-was-found-in-rpm-installing-or)
- [RPM rpmuncompress command injection in doUntar](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-44604-rpm-rpmuncompress-command-injection-in-dountar)