CVE-2003-0645
man-db 2.3.12 and 2.3.18 to 2.4.1 uses certain user-controlled DEFINE directives from the ~/.manpath file, even when running setuid, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
Does this matter?
A public exploit is published in Exploit-DB (verified), so the technical barrier is gone even though the severity is medium and EPSS is 0.7%. Treat it as high on anything reachable from the internet.
Description
man-db 2.3.12 and 2.3.18 to 2.4.1 uses certain user-controlled DEFINE directives from the ~/.manpath file, even when running setuid, which could allow local users to gain privileges.
- CVSS 2.0
- 4.6 MEDIUMAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
- EPSS
- 0.74% probability · 54th percentile
- Public exploits
- 1 in Exploit-DB · verified · first 6 August 2003
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Affected
- andries brouwer/man
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
EPSS 0.7% since 26 October 2026; no change recorded yet. Points are recorded when the score first appears and whenever it moves by a percentage point or more.
Public exploits (1)
Entries in Exploit-DB that cite this CVE. Links go to the Exploit-DB page and to the file in the public repository; nothing is hosted here. A verified tick means the Exploit-DB team confirmed the exploit works against the stated version.
References
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106018504800341&w=2
- http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-364Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/8352
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/12848
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106018504800341&w=2
- http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-364Patch, Vendor Advisory
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/8352
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/12848
Source: NVD record, EPSS from FIRST.org, KEV from CISA, exploits from Exploit-DB. Refreshed daily. Download this record as JSON.