Is CVE-2003-0478 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available for CVE-2003-0478, but active exploitation has not been confirmed.

Can CVE-2003-0478 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2003-0478 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2003-0478?

CVE-2003-0478 has a CVSS score of 10.0 (CRITICAL).

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CRITICALPOC

CVE-2003-0478

NVD-CWE-OtherPublished: August 7, 2003· Updated: Jun 16, 2026

10.0

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Format string vulnerability in (1) Bahamut IRCd 1.4.35 and earlier, and other IRC daemons based on Bahamut including (2) digatech 1.2.1, (3) methane 0.1.1, (4) AndromedeIRCd 1.2.3-Release, and (5) ircd-RU, when running in debug mode, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a request containing format strings.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2003-0478 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2003-0478. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.