HOMEVULNERABILITIESCVE-2003-0466
CRITICALPOC

CVE-2003-0466

CWE-193Published: August 27, 2003· Updated: Jun 16, 2026

9.8
CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Off-by-one error in the fb_realpath() function, as derived from the realpath function in BSD, may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated in wu-ftpd 2.5.0 through 2.6.2 via commands that cause pathnames of length MAXPATHLEN+1 to trigger a buffer overflow, including (1) STOR, (2) RETR, (3) APPE, (4) DELE, (5) MKD, (6) RMD, (7) STOU, or (8) RNTO.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2003-0466 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

The vulnerability requires no privileges and no user interaction, making it a prime target for automated exploitation campaigns and worm-like propagation.

A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 9.8.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2003-0466. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.

CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown

Exploitability
Attack VectorNetwork
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges Req.None
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
Impact
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Affected Vendors & Products

Apple2 product(s)
mac os xmac os x server
freebsd1 product(s)
freebsd
netbsd1 product(s)
netbsd
openbsd1 product(s)
openbsd
Red Hat1 product(s)
wu ftpd
sun1 product(s)
solaris
wuftpd1 product(s)
wu-ftpd
Source: NVD CPE · 8 total CPE entries

Exploit & PoC Resources

POC AVAILABLEProof-of-concept code exists
External links open in a new tab. Always verify in a controlled environment before use.

Official Patches & Advisories

All References (54)

Quick Facts

CVE IDCVE-2003-0466
CVSS Score9.8 / 10
SeverityCRITICAL
WeaknessCWE-193
CISA KEVNo
ExploitPOC
Affected7 vendor(s)
PublishedAug 27, 2003

Related CVEs (CWE-193)

Recommended Actions

  • Apply vendor patches immediately
  • Monitor CVE-2003-0466 in threat intel feeds
  • Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts
Data sourced from NVD (NIST), CISA KEV, and EPSS (FIRST). Analysis generated by CTIWATCH.COM. CVE data is provided under the NVD usage policy.