# CVE-2002-0184: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local attackers can gain root privileges via a heap-based buffer overflow in Sudo caused by improper handling of special characters in the prompt argument.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 2 Apr 2003
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vv6h-2fw3-xm26

## What is CVE-2002-0184?

CVE-2002-0184 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 2 Apr 2003. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Sudo before 1.6.6 contains an off-by-one error that can result in a heap-based buffer overflow that may allow local users to gain root privileges via special characters in the -p (prompt) argument, which are not properly expanded.

Weakness: CWE-131 (Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2002-0184?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Debian Debian Linux, Sudo Project Sudo.

## How do I fix CVE-2002-0184?

No fix has been published for CVE-2002-0184 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2002-0184 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2002-0184 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Sudo 1.6.x - Password Prompt Heap 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-2002-0184 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2002-0184 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 2 Apr 2003. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2002-0184 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-2002-0184/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0184/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2002-0184
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2002-0184
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2002-0184

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0184/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.