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Vulnerability record · CVE-2003-0972 · published 15 December 2003

CVE-2003-0972: Gnu screen vulnerability

Gnu · Screen

Integer signedness error in ansi.c for GNU screen 4.0.1 and earlier, and 3.9.15 and earlier, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a large number of ";" (semicolon) characters in escape sequences, which leads to a buffer overflow.

10.0 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 3.4% · top 11.6%
10.0CVSS 2.0 base score
3.4%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
12References
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

Integer signedness error in ansi.c for GNU screen 4.0.1 and earlier, and 3.9.15 and earlier, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a large number of ";" (semicolon) characters in escape sequences, which leads to a buffer overflow.

AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

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Related vulnerabilities

Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

9.8CVE-2021-26937Gnu screen argument injection vulnerabilityencoding.c in GNU Screen through 4.8.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid write access and application crash) or possibly …EPSS 9.1%9.8CVE-2020-9366Gnu screen out-of-bounds write vulnerabilityA buffer overflow was found in the way GNU Screen before 4.8.0 treated the special escape OSC 49. Specially crafted output, or a special program, cou…EPSS 2.7%7.8CVE-2017-5618Gnu screen incorrect authorization vulnerabilityGNU screen before 4.5.1 allows local users to modify arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges by leveraging improper checking of logfile…EPSS 1.1%7.2CVE-2007-3048Gnu screen vulnerabilityGNU screen 4.0.3 allows local users to unlock the screen via a CTRL-C sequence at the password prompt. NOTE: multiple third parties report inability …EPSS 0.71%6.5CVE-2023-24626Gnu screen incorrect permission assignment vulnerabilitysocket.c in GNU Screen through 4.9.0, when installed setuid or setgid (the default on platforms such as Arch Linux and FreeBSD), allows local users t…EPSS 0.54%4.9CVE-2009-1214Gnu screen permissions and access controls vulnerabilityGNU screen 4.0.3 creates the /tmp/screen-exchange temporary file with world-readable permissions, which might allow local users to obtain sensitive s…EPSS 0.34%4.6CVE-2002-1602Gnu screen vulnerabilityBuffer overflow in the Braille module for GNU screen 3.9.11, when HAVE_BRAILLE is defined, allows local users to execute arbitrary code.EPSS 1.3%2.6CVE-2006-4573Gnu screen vulnerabilityMultiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the "utf8 combining characters handling" (utf8_handle_comb function in encoding.c) in screen before 4.0.3 all…EPSS 2.3%

Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2003-0972), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-28). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.