CVE-2003-0001
MediumPublic exploitcisco: information leak in ethernet frames.
Published Jan 6, 2003 · Updated Mar 9, 2026 · Also known as DSA-423
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2003-0001 is a medium-severity vulnerability (CVSS 5.3 v3.1) affecting Freebsd, Linux Kernel, Windows 2000 (Microsoft) and 13 more products.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. Public exploit code is available.
- EPSS estimates a 70% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including kernel-image-2.2.20-i386 2.2.20-5woody3, kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64 kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64, kernel-image-2.4.17-s390 2.4.17-2.woody.3.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
CVSS v3.1
5.3
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
70%
Higher than 99.3% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
No known
Not in a known-exploited catalog
Public exploit code
Available
Proof-of-concept or weaponized module
Get the full CVE-2003-0001 brief as a PDF
Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.
Description
Multiple ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) device drivers do not pad frames with null bytes, which allows remote attackers to obtain information from previous packets or kernel memory by using malformed packets, as demonstrated by Etherleak.
Affected Products
48 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| FreebsdFreebsd | 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 | n/a |
| Linux KernelLinux | 2.4.1, 2.4.10, 2.4.11, 2.4.12, 2.4.13, 2.4.14, 2.4.15, 2.4.16 | n/a |
| Windows 2000Microsoft | See advisory | n/a |
| Windows 2000 Terminal ServicesMicrosoft | See advisory | n/a |
| NetbsdNetbsd | 1.5, 1.5.1, 1.5.2, 1.5.3, 1.6 | n/a |
Patched Releases
kernel-image-2.2.20-i386
2.2.20-5woody3
kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64
kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64
kernel-image-2.4.17-s390
2.4.17-2.woody.3
kernel-image-2.4.18-1-i386
2.4.18-8
kernel-image-2.4.18-i386bf
2.4.18-5woody1.
kernel-patch-2.4.17-mips
2.4.17-0.020226.2.woody2
kernel-patch-2.4.17-s390
0.0.20020816-0.woody.2
kernel-patch-2.4.18-powerpc
2.4.18-1woody1
kernel-source-2.2.20
2.2.20-5woody2
kernel-source-2.4.17
2.4.17-1woody1
kernel-source-2.4.18
2.4.18-9
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Jan 6, 2003
Last updated
Mar 9, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-200 Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor
References
- advisoryRHSA-2003:025
- advisoryRHSA-2003:088
- advisoryRHSA-2003:190
- advisoryA010603-1
- advisoryVU#412115
FAQ
Common Questions.
Multiple ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) device drivers do not pad frames with null bytes, which allows remote attackers to obtain information from previous packets or kernel memory by using malformed packets, as demonstrated by Etherleak.
Affected: Freebsd versions 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7; Linux Kernel versions 2.4.1, 2.4.10, 2.4.11, 2.4.12, 2.4.13, 2.4.14, 2.4.15, 2.4.16; Windows 2000 (Microsoft), among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog.
No, it is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including kernel-image-2.2.20-i386 2.2.20-5woody3, kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64 kernel-image-2.4.17-ia64, kernel-image-2.4.17-s390 2.4.17-2.woody.3.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
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