# CVE-2004-0548: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code via stack-based buffer overflows in Aspell's word-list-compress functionality when processing long entries.

- **Severity:** High 7.2 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 11 Jun 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2004-0548, GHSA-qj45-8h8f-43w4

## What is CVE-2004-0548?

CVE-2004-0548 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Gentoo Linux, published on 11 Jun 2004. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in the word-list-compress functionality in compress.c for Aspell allow local users to execute arbitrary code via a long entry in the wordlist that is not properly handled when using the (1) "c" compress option or (2) "d" decompress option.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-0548?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Gentoo Linux, Gnu Aspell.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-0548?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2004-0548 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0548 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Aspell (word-list-compress) - Command Line Stack Overflow (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Gentoo Linux

- [CVE-2004-0914](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0914/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1037](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1037/): Command injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1034](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1034/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-0891](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0891/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2002-1337](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-1337/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-0548 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-0548 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Gentoo Linux, published on 11 Jun 2004. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, 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-2004-0548 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-2004-0548/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0548/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-0548
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0548
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-0548

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0548/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.