# CVE-2005-3120: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote NNTP servers can execute arbitrary code on Lynx users via crafted article headers causing a stack-based buffer overflow.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Oct 2005
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2005-3120, DSA-1085-1, DSA-874-1, DSA-876-1, GHSA-c6vg-33v6-g8vm, RHSA-2005:803

## What is CVE-2005-3120?

CVE-2005-3120 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 17 Oct 2005. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the HTrjis function in Lynx 2.8.6 and earlier allows remote NNTP servers to execute arbitrary code via certain article headers containing Asian characters that cause Lynx to add extra escape (ESC) characters.

Weakness: CWE-131 (Incorrect Calculation of Buffer Size)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2005-3120?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::desktop | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::es | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::ws | All versions | 0:2.8.5-11.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::desktop | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::es | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |
| `lynx-debuginfo` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::ws | All versions | 0:2.8.5-18.1 |

Products: Debian Debian Linux, Invisible-Island Lynx.

## How do I fix CVE-2005-3120?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2005-3120 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2005-3120 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Lynx 2.8.6dev.13 - Remote Buffer Overflow (PoC) (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-2005-3120 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2005-3120 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Debian Debian Linux, published on 17 Oct 2005. 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-2005-3120 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-2005-3120/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3120/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-3120
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-3120
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2005-3120

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-3120/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.