# CVE-2003-0081: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via malicious SOCKS packets due to a format string vulnerability in the Ethereal network analyzer.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Sep 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-258, GHSA-jg8q-x5wr-cvjx

## What is CVE-2003-0081?

CVE-2003-0081 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Ethereal Group Ethereal, published on 1 Sep 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Format string vulnerability in packet-socks.c of the SOCKS dissector for Ethereal 0.8.7 through 0.9.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via SOCKS packets containing format string specifiers.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2003-0081?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Ethereal Group Ethereal.

## How do I fix CVE-2003-0081?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2003-0081 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2003-0081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Ethereal Group Ethereal

- [CVE-2006-3628](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-3628/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-3632](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-3632/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-1932](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-1932/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2005-3184](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3184/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0507](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0507/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2003-0081 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2003-0081 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Ethereal Group Ethereal, published on 1 Sep 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2003-0081 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Ethereal Group Ethereal. 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-2003-0081/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0081/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-0081
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0081
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2003-0081

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0081/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.