CVE-2018-20482 · cross-distro fix matrix

CVE-2018-20482: GNU Tar through 1.30, when --sparse is used, mishandles file shrinkage during read access, which allows local users to cause a denial of service (infinite read loop in sparse_dump_region in sparse.c) by modifying a file that is supposed to be archived by a different user's process (e.g., a system ba

Affects 8 Linux releases across 8 (distro × package) combinations.

Fix per ecosystem

Each block below is a distro release where CVE-2018-20482 has a known fix. Run the listed command on that distro to remediate.

Debian bullseye

Source: Debian Security Tracker

tar→ fixed in1.30+dfsg-3.1urgency: not yet assigned
```
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y tar
```

Debian bookworm

Source: Debian Security Tracker

tar→ fixed in1.30+dfsg-3.1urgency: not yet assigned
```
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y tar
```

Debian trixie

Source: Debian Security Tracker

tar→ fixed in1.30+dfsg-3.1urgency: not yet assigned
```
sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade -y tar
```

Alpine v3.20

Source: Alpine secdb

tar→ fixed in1.31-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade tar
```

Alpine v3.21

Source: Alpine secdb

tar→ fixed in1.31-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade tar
```

Alpine edge

Source: Alpine secdb

tar→ fixed in1.31-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade tar
```

Alpine v3.18

Source: Alpine secdb

tar→ fixed in1.31-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade tar
```

Alpine v3.19

Source: Alpine secdb

tar→ fixed in1.31-r0
```
apk update && apk add --upgrade tar
```

Are YOU affected by CVE-2018-20482?

5-second check on your actual server. Reads /etc/os-release, uname -r, and the distro's package manager; matches against this same cross-source index live.

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