CVE-2026-102473

Dash: dash: super-polynomial backtracking in pmatch when libc fnmatch is disabled

Published Sep 29, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in dash. When built without libc fnmatch, the internal pmatch() matcher implements * by unbounded recursion over candidate positions. A local user who can plant filenames, or otherwise feed that matcher, can make a short multi-star pattern such as *.*.*.*.*.tar.gz consume excessive CPU.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Rebuild dash with --enable-fnmatch so pathname matching uses libc fnmatch. Until then, do not run dash globs, case, or ${var#pat} / ${var%pat} against attacker-controlled names with multi-star patterns. There is no upstream backtracking bound in the internal matcher.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat rhel Els
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6 cpe:/o:redhat:rhel_els:6
Vendors & Products Redhat enterprise Linux
Redhat rhel Els
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Dash
Dash dash
Vendors & Products Dash
Dash dash
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in dash. When built without libc fnmatch, the internal pmatch() matcher implements * by unbounded recursion over candidate positions. A local user who can plant filenames, or otherwise feed that matcher, can make a short multi-star pattern such as *.*.*.*.*.tar.gz consume excessive CPU.
Title Dash: dash: super-polynomial backtracking in pmatch when libc fnmatch is disabled
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
Weaknesses CWE-1333
CPEs cpe:/o:redhat:enterprise_linux:6
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat enterprise Linux
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 4:04 PM
Reserved
Sep 29, 2026, 8:38 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 29, 2026, 10:17 AM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 5:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 29, 2026, 12:00 AM