# CVE-2004-0416: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a double free vulnerability in the CVS version control system.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 11 Jun 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2004-0416, GHSA-xrvc-m3hh-hp9h

## What is CVE-2004-0416?

CVE-2004-0416 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Gentoo Linux, published on 11 Jun 2004. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Double free vulnerability for the error_prog_name string in CVS 1.12.x through 1.12.8, and 1.11.x through 1.11.16, may allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-0416?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Cvs Cvs, Gentoo Linux, Openbsd Openbsd, Openpkg Openpkg, Sgi Propack.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-0416?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2004-0416 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0416 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Remote CVS 1.11.15 - 'error_prog_name' Arbitrary Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Gentoo Linux

- [CVE-2012-0804](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-0804/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0414](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0414/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0418](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0418/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1342](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1342/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2005-0753](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-0753/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-0416 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-0416 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Gentoo Linux, published on 11 Jun 2004. 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-2004-0416 exists.

Affected product: Gentoo 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-2004-0416/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0416/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-0416
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0416
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-0416

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0416/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.