CVE-2003-0545
CriticalDouble free vulnerability in OpenSSL 0.9.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an SSL client certificate with a certain invalid ASN.1 encoding.
Published Nov 17, 2003 · Updated Aug 4, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2003-0545
Key Facts
Patch immediately- CVE-2003-0545 is a critical-severity vulnerability (CVSS 9.8 v3.1) affecting Openssl, openssl095 (debian), rootio-openssl.
- It is not listed in any known-exploited vulnerabilities catalog. No public exploit code is known.
- EPSS estimates a 87% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- Fixed versions are available, including Openssl 0.9.6c-2.woody.4, Openssl 0.9.7c, openssl095 0.9.5a-6.woody.3.
- Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
CVSS v3.1
9.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)
87%
Higher than 99.7% of all scored CVEs
Exploited in the wild
No known
Not in a known-exploited catalog
Public exploit code
None known
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Description
Double free vulnerability in OpenSSL 0.9.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an SSL client certificate with a certain invalid ASN.1 encoding.
Affected Products
16 affected entries in total| Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| OpensslOpenssl | 0.9.6, 0.9.7 | 0.9.7c |
| openssl095debian | See advisory | 0.9.5a-6.woody.3 |
| rootio-opensslrootio | See advisory | 0.9.7c |
Patched Releases
Openssl
0.9.6c-2.woody.4, 0.9.7c
openssl095
0.9.5a-6.woody.3
rootio-openssl
0.9.7c
Timeline
Publicly disclosed
Nov 17, 2003
Last updated
Aug 4, 2026
Weakness Type
- CWE-415 Double Free
References
- advisoryRHSA-2003:292
- advisory22249
- advisoryhttps://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2003-0545
- advisoryCA-2003-26
- advisoryVU#935264
FAQ
Common Questions.
Double free vulnerability in OpenSSL 0.9.7 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an SSL client certificate with a certain invalid ASN.1 encoding.
Affected: Openssl versions 0.9.6, 0.9.7; openssl095 (debian); rootio-openssl. 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.
No public exploit code is known.
Fixed versions are available, including Openssl 0.9.6c-2.woody.4, Openssl 0.9.7c, openssl095 0.9.5a-6.woody.3.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is very likely to be exploited soon.
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