# CVE-2003-0466: Memory corruption in n/a

> An off-by-one error in the realpath function allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted FTP commands.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Aug 2003
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-357, GHSA-7c4w-gm97-vgqq

## What is CVE-2003-0466?

CVE-2003-0466 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 1 Aug 2003. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Off-by-one error in the fb_realpath() function, as derived from the realpath function in BSD, may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, as demonstrated in wu-ftpd 2.5.0 through 2.6.2 via commands that cause pathnames of length MAXPATHLEN+1 to trigger a buffer overflow, including (1) STOR, (2) RETR, (3) APPE, (4) DELE, (5) MKD, (6) RMD, (7) STOU, or (8) RNTO.

Weakness: CWE-193 (Off-by-one Error)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2003-0466?

It affects 8 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Apple Mac Os X Server, Freebsd Freebsd, Netbsd Netbsd, Openbsd Openbsd, Redhat Wu Ftpd, Sun Solaris, Wuftpd Wu-Ftpd.

## How do I fix CVE-2003-0466?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2003-0466 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2003-0466 exists.

Public exploit code:

- FreeBSD 4.8 - 'realpath()' Off-by-One Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)
- WU-FTPD 2.6.2 - 'realpath()' Off-by-One Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)
- WU-FTPD 2.6.2 - Off-by-One Remote Command Execution (exploitdb)
- WU-FTPD 2.6.0/2.6.1/2.6.2 - 'realpath()' Off-by-One Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)
- WU-FTPD 2.6.2 - Remote Command Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2003-0466 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2003-0466 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 1 Aug 2003. 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-2003-0466 exists.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. 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-2003-0466/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0466/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-0466
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0466
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2003-0466

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0466/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.