# CVE-2001-0554: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands via a buffer overflow in the BSD telnet daemon's handling of AYT options.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Mar 2002
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-cxg3-hwc8-9mx4

## What is CVE-2001-0554?

CVE-2001-0554 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 9 Mar 2002. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in BSD-based telnetd telnet daemon on various operating systems allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a set of options including AYT (Are You There), which is not properly handled by the telrcv function.

Weakness: CWE-120 (Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2001-0554?

It affects 11 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Freebsd Freebsd, Ibm Aix, Mit Kerberos, Mit Kerberos 5, Netbsd Netbsd, Netkit Linux Netkit, Openbsd Openbsd, Sgi Irix, Sun Solaris, Sun Sunos.

## How do I fix CVE-2001-0554?

No fix has been published for CVE-2001-0554 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2001-0554 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2001-0554 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Solaris 2.x/7.0/8 / IRIX 6.5.x / OpenBSD 2.x / NetBSD 1.x / Debian 3 / HP-UX 10 - 'TelnetD' Remote Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2015-3306](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-3306/): ProFTPD Improper Access Control (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-49113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49113/): RoundCube Webmail Deserialization of Untrusted Data (critical 9.9, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-24061](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-24061/): GNU InetUtils Argument Injection (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-39682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-39682/): Linux Kernel Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-9680/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2001-0554 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2001-0554 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 9 Mar 2002. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2001-0554 exists.

Affected product: Debian Debian Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0554/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0554/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2001-0554
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2001-0554
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2001-0554

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2001-0554/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.