CVE-2026-88842

Busybox: busybox: dpkg stale field_start pointer causes out-of-bounds read and status file corruption

Published Oct 14, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 3.3 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
A flaw was found in BusyBox dpkg. The write_status_file() function does not reset a field cursor between package stanzas. When two packages are removed in a single invocation and the first stanza is larger than the second, the second package stanza can be dropped from the status file, causing limited data corruption.

Remediation

Vendor Workaround

Do not use BusyBox dpkg for package management on systems where package integrity is critical. Remove packages one at a time if BusyBox dpkg must be used. Upstream should reset field_start at the beginning of each stanza iteration in write_status_file().

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Redhat hardened Images
Vendors & Products Redhat hardened Images
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

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

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A flaw was found in BusyBox dpkg. The write_status_file() function does not reset a field cursor between package stanzas. When two packages are removed in a single invocation and the first stanza is larger than the second, the second package stanza can be dropped from the status file, causing limited data corruption.
Title Busybox: busybox: dpkg stale field_start pointer causes out-of-bounds read and status file corruption
First Time appeared Redhat
Redhat hummingbird
Weaknesses CWE-125
CPEs cpe:/a:redhat:hummingbird:1
Vendors & Products Redhat
Redhat hummingbird
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.3, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
redhat
Published
Updated
Oct 15, 2026, 7:33 PM
Reserved
Sep 10, 2026, 9:52 AM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Oct 14, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 15, 2026, 8:17 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Oct 14, 2026, 8:45 AM