CVE-2024-3094: Embedded Malicious Code
Source CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · 90% EPSS · CVSS 10.0 Critical.
Data as of 3 Nov 2026, 22:57 UTC
- EPSS
- 90.9% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 99% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 29 Mar 2024
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: evidence found.
Public exploit code: GitHub proofs of concept
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), GitHub proofs of concept, the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 3 Nov 2026.
What to do
AI-suggested
Red Hat has confirmed that no versions of Red Hat Enterprise Linux are affected. The malicious code is only present in the tarball source packages of xz versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1, specifically in Fedora 41 and Fedora Rawhide. The Git repository versions are not affected. Users of Fedora 41 and Rawhide should upgrade to versions that do not include the malicious code once available or avoid using the affected tarballs. Monitor Red Hat and Fedora advisories for official patches or updates.
Description
CVE-2024-3094 is a critical vulnerability involving embedded malicious code in the upstream source tarballs of the xz utility starting with version 5.6.0. The malicious code uses obfuscation to extract a prebuilt object file during the liblzma build process, modifying liblzma functions. This results in a compromised liblzma library that can intercept and alter data interactions for any software linked against it. The issue is confirmed in Fedora 41 and Fedora Rawhide but not in Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). The malicious code is present only in the tarball source packages, not in the Git repository. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 10.0, indicating critical severity with network attack vector, no privileges required, and full confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Reports on CVE-2024-3094
References
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2272210 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/29/4 (opens in a new tab)
- redhat.com/en/blog/urgent-security-alert-fedora-41-and-rawhide-users (opens in a new tab)
- binarly.io/blog/persistent-risk-xz-utils-backdoor-still-lurking-in-docker-images (opens in a new tab)
- ariadne.space/2024/04/02/the-xz-utils-backdoor-is-a-symptom-of-a-larger-problem/ (opens in a new tab)
- arstechnica.com/security/2024/03/backdoor-found-in-widely-used-linux-utility-breaks-encrypted-ssh-connections/ (opens in a new tab)
- aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/AWS-2024-002/ (opens in a new tab)
- blog.netbsd.org/tnf/entry/statement_on_backdoor_in_xz (opens in a new tab)
- boehs.org/node/everything-i-know-about-the-xz-backdoor (opens in a new tab)
- bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1068024 (opens in a new tab)
- bugs.gentoo.org/928134 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1222124 (opens in a new tab)
- discourse.nixos.org/t/cve-2024-3094-malicious-code-in-xz-5-6-0-and-5-6-1-tarballs/42405 (opens in a new tab)
- gist.github.com/thesamesam/223949d5a074ebc3dce9ee78baad9e27 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-rxwq-x6h5-x525 (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/amlweems/xzbot (opens in a new tab)
- github.com/karcherm/xz-malware (opens in a new tab)
- gynvael.coldwind.pl (opens in a new tab)
- lists.debian.org/debian-security-announce/2024/msg00057.html (opens in a new tab)
- lists.freebsd.org/archives/freebsd-security/2024-March/000248.html (opens in a new tab)
- lwn.net/Articles/967180/ (opens in a new tab)
- news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39865810 (opens in a new tab)
- news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39877267 (opens in a new tab)
- news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39895344 (opens in a new tab)
- openssf.org/blog/2024/03/30/xz-backdoor-cve-2024-3094/ (opens in a new tab)
- research.swtch.com/xz-script (opens in a new tab)
- research.swtch.com/xz-timeline (opens in a new tab)
- security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- security.alpinelinux.org/vuln/CVE-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- security.archlinux.org/CVE-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20240402-0001/ (opens in a new tab)
- tukaani.org/xz-backdoor/ (opens in a new tab)
- twitter.com/LetsDefendIO/status/1774804387417751958 (opens in a new tab)
- twitter.com/debian/status/1774219194638409898 (opens in a new tab)
- twitter.com/infosecb/status/1774595540233167206 (opens in a new tab)
- twitter.com/infosecb/status/1774597228864139400 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- cisa.gov/news-events/alerts/2024/03/29/reported-supply-chain-compromise-affecting-xz-utils-data-compression-library-cve-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- darkreading.com/vulnerabilities-threats/are-you-affected-by-the-backdoor-in-xz-utils (opens in a new tab)
- kali.org/blog/about-the-xz-backdoor/ (opens in a new tab)
- tenable.com/blog/frequently-asked-questions-cve-2024-3094-supply-chain-backdoor-in-xz-utils (opens in a new tab)
- theregister.com/2024/03/29/malicious_backdoor_xz/ (opens in a new tab)
- vicarius.io/vsociety/vulnerabilities/cve-2024-3094 (opens in a new tab)
- xeiaso.net/notes/2024/xz-vuln/ (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/30/12 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/30/27 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/29/12 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/29/10 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/30/36 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/04/16/5 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/29/8 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/30/5 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/29/5 (opens in a new tab)
- openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2024/03/29/4 (opens in a new tab)