# CVE-2010-0740: Null dereference in n/a

> Remote attackers can crash OpenSSL via malformed TLS records, causing denial of service in applications using the library.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Mar 2010
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2010-0740, GHSA-qr53-p9wq-vjrx

## What is CVE-2010-0740?

CVE-2010-0740 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openssl Openssl, published on 26 Mar 2010. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The ssl3_get_record function in ssl/s3_pkt.c in OpenSSL 0.9.8f through 0.9.8m allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a malformed record in a TLS connection that triggers a NULL pointer dereference, related to the minor version number.  NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

Weakness: CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2010-0740?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Openssl Openssl.

## How do I fix CVE-2010-0740?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2010-0740 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2010-0740 exists.

Public exploit code:

- OpenSSL - Remote Denial of Service (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Openssl Openssl

- [CVE-2009-3245](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3245/): Null dereference in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2006-3738](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-3738/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2026-63073](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-63073/): Untrusted Sender DN Used as Format String in CMP Response Validation (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-6309](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-6309/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-0799](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-0799/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2010-0740 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2010-0740 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Openssl Openssl, published on 26 Mar 2010. 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-2010-0740 exists.

Affected product: Openssl Openssl. 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-2010-0740/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0740/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2010-0740
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2010-0740
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2010-0740

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0740/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.