# CVE-2004-0996: Path traversal in n/a

> Local attackers can overwrite arbitrary files via symlink attacks due to predictable temporary filenames in cscope.

- **Severity:** Low 2.1 (`AV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Dec 2004
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2004-0996, DSA-610-1, GHSA-g9x5-fv34-9wx2

## What is CVE-2004-0996?

CVE-2004-0996 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 1 Dec 2004. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

main.c in cscope 15-4 and 15-5 creates temporary files with predictable filenames, which allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2004-0996?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Cscope Cscope, Debian Debian Linux, Gentoo Linux, Sco Unixware.

## How do I fix CVE-2004-0996?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2004-0996 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0996 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Cscope 13.0/15.x - Insecure Temporary File Creation (1) (exploitdb)
- Cscope 13.0/15.x - Insecure Temporary File Creation (2) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Debian Debian Linux

- [CVE-2009-1577](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1577/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2009-0148](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0148/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2004-2541](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-2541/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 6.9)
- [CVE-2006-4262](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-4262/): Memory corruption in n/a (medium 5.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2004-0996 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2004-0996 is a low-severity path traversal vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 1 Dec 2004. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2004-0996 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-2004-0996/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0996/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2004-0996
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2004-0996
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2004-0996

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0996/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.