# CVE-2003-0542: Memory corruption in n/a

> Attackers with configuration access can trigger stack overflows in Apache mod_alias or mod_rewrite via complex regex, leading to crashes or arbitrary code execution.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 30 Oct 2003
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2003-0542, GHSA-5cfw-vgxw-pqxm, RHSA-2004:015

## What is CVE-2003-0542?

CVE-2003-0542 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 30 Oct 2003. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in (1) mod_alias and (2) mod_rewrite for Apache before 1.3.29 allow attackers to create configuration files to cause a denial of service (crash) or execute arbitrary code via a regular expression with more than 9 captures.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2003-0542?

It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `httpd` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `mod_ssl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 1:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `mod_ssl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 1:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `mod_ssl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 1:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `httpd-devel` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:2.0.46-26.ent |
| `mod_ssl` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 1:2.0.46-26.ent |

Products: Apache Http Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2003-0542?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2003-0542 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2003-0542 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apache Http Server

- [CVE-2021-42013](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42013/): Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-38475](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-38475/): Apache HTTP Server Improper Escaping of Output (critical 9.1, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-40438](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40438/): Apache HTTP Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) (critical 9.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-0211](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-0211/): Apache HTTP Server Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-41773](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-41773/): Apache HTTP Server Path Traversal (high 7.5, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2003-0542 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2003-0542 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apache Http Server, published on 30 Oct 2003. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2003-0542 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apache Http Server. 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-2003-0542/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0542/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2003-0542
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2003-0542
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2003-0542

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-0542/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.