USN-8588-1: Gawk vulnerabilities

Publication date

22 July 2026

Overview

Several security issues were fixed in Gawk.


Packages

  • gawk - GNU implementation of AWK

Details

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled memory when processing
input using the getline redirection. An attacker could possibly use
this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2026-40467)

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled certain integer
calculations when allocating memory. An attacker could possibly use
this issue to cause a denial of service or overwrite heap memory with
attacker-controlled data. (CVE-2026-40468)

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled certain integer
calculations when performing substitutions. An attacker could possibly
use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2026-40469)

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled memory when reading
directory entries. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause
a denial of service or execute arbitrary...

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled memory when processing
input using the getline redirection. An attacker could possibly use
this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2026-40467)

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled certain integer
calculations when allocating memory. An attacker could possibly use
this issue to cause a denial of service or overwrite heap memory with
attacker-controlled data. (CVE-2026-40468)

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled certain integer
calculations when performing substitutions. An attacker could possibly
use this issue to cause a denial of service. (CVE-2026-40469)

It was discovered that Gawk incorrectly handled memory when reading
directory entries. An attacker could possibly use this issue to cause
a denial of service or execute arbitrary code. This issue only affected
Ubuntu 26.04 LTS. (CVE-2026-40553)


Update instructions

In general, a standard system update will make all the necessary changes.

Learn more about how to get the fixes.

The problem can be corrected by updating your system to the following package versions:

Ubuntu Release Package Version
26.04 LTS resolute gawk –  1:5.3.2-1ubuntu1.1
24.04 LTS noble gawk –  1:5.2.1-2ubuntu0.1
22.04 LTS jammy gawk –  1:5.1.0-1ubuntu0.2
20.04 LTS focal gawk –  1:5.0.1+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1+esm1  
18.04 LTS bionic gawk –  1:4.1.4+dfsg-1ubuntu0.1~esm2  
16.04 LTS xenial gawk –  1:4.1.3+dfsg-0.1ubuntu0.1~esm2  
14.04 LTS trusty gawk –  1:4.0.1+dfsg-2.1ubuntu2+esm2  

Reduce your security exposure

Ubuntu Pro provides ten-year security coverage to 25,000+ packages in Main and Universe repositories, and it is free for up to five machines.


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