# CVE-2004-0179: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote malicious WebDAV servers can execute arbitrary code via format string vulnerabilities in the neon library and dependent applications.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`AV:N/AC:M/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 16 Apr 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-487, GHSA-3265-7c8c-jh75, RHSA-2004:160

## What is CVE-2004-0179?

CVE-2004-0179 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 16 Apr 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple format string vulnerabilities in (1) neon 0.24.4 and earlier, and other products that use neon including (2) Cadaver, (3) Subversion, and (4) OpenOffice, allow remote malicious WebDAV servers to execute arbitrary code.

Weakness: CWE-134 (Use of Externally-Controlled Format String)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-0179?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `openoffice.org` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-i18n` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-i18n` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-i18n` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-i18n` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |
| `openoffice.org-libs` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:1.1.0-15.EL |

Products: Debian Debian Linux, Webdav Neon.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-0179?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2004-0179 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0179 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Neon WebDAV Client Library 0.2x - Format String (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-2004-0179 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-0179 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 16 Apr 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0179 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-2004-0179/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0179/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-0179
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0179
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-0179

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0179/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.