Format string vulnerability in packet-socks.c of the SOCKS dissector for Ethereal 0.8.7…
Priority MEDIUM 42Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Format string vulnerability in packet-socks.c of the SOCKS dissector for Ethereal 0.8.7 through 0.9.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via SOCKS packets containing format string specifiers.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.05816 93rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 1 exploit referenceTagged by NVD
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 2 advisories
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 11
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.8.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.8.18 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.0 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.1 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.2 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.3 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.4 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.5 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.6 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.7 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.8 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.8.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.8.18 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.0 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.1 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.2 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.3 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.4 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.5 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.6 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.7 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.8 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
Show 1 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.9.9 | Vulnerable | Ethereal Group |
- cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9.9 Vulnerable ·Ethereal Group
Remediation
Red Hat 2 advisories
- RHSA-2003:077 Released 2003-07-08 · Red Hat rating Moderateethereal security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1
- Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1
- RHSA-2003:076 Released 2003-04-23 · Red Hat rating Moderate: Updated ethereal packages fix security vulnerabilities
- Red Hat Linux 7.2
- Red Hat Linux 7.3
- Red Hat Linux 8.0
- Red Hat Linux 9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:077 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:077 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:077 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.2 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:076 |
| Red Hat Linux 7.3 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:076 |
| Red Hat Linux 8.0 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:076 |
| Red Hat Linux 9 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:076 |
| Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2003:077 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2003-0081
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jg8q-x5wr-cvjx
References
Exploit 1
More Ethereal Group Ethereal vulnerabilities
- TI-2004-00151 Multiple buffer overflows in Ethereal 0.8.13 to 0.10.2 allow remote attackers to cause a… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 5.0
- TI-2006-03524 Buffer overflow in Wireshark (aka Ethereal) 0.8.16 to 0.99.0 allows remote attackers to… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2005-03011 Buffer overflow vulnerability in the unicode_to_bytes in the Service Location Protocol… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2004-00458 Buffer overflow in the MMSE dissector for Ethereal 0.10.1 to 0.10.3 allows remote… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2006-03520 Multiple format string vulnerabilities in Wireshark (aka Ethereal) 0.10.x to 0.99.0 allow… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
- TI-2006-01877 Off-by-one error in the OID printing routine in Ethereal 0.10.x up to 0.10.14 has unknown… CVSS 2.0HIGH 10.0
Sources
- CVE-2003-0081 · CVE Program
- CVE-2003-0081 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jg8q-x5wr-cvjx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2003-0081 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences