Stack-based Buffer Overflow Affecting gawk-debugsource package, versions <0:5.1.0-3.amzn2023.0.4


Severity

Recommended
high

Based on Amazon Linux security rating.

Threat Intelligence

EPSS
0.29% (21st percentile)

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  • Snyk IDSNYK-AMZN2023-GAWKDEBUGSOURCE-18532098
  • published5 Aug 2026
  • disclosed13 Jul 2026

Introduced: 13 Jul 2026

NewCVE-2026-40553  (opens in a new tab)
CWE-121  (opens in a new tab)

How to fix?

Upgrade Amazon-Linux:2023 gawk-debugsource to version 0:5.1.0-3.amzn2023.0.4 or higher.
This issue was patched in ALAS2023-2026-2035.

NVD Description

Note: Versions mentioned in the description apply only to the upstream gawk-debugsource package and not the gawk-debugsource package as distributed by Amazon-Linux. See How to fix? for Amazon-Linux:2023 relevant fixed versions and status.

Buffer overflow vulnerability has been found in "extension/readdir.c" program file of gawk (ftype() routine). This issue could be used to crash the program and potentially to achieve code execution, although the latter has not been confirmed to be feasible. It affects gawk in versions 5.4.0 and below.

CVSS Base Scores

version 3.1