Integer signedness error in ansi.c for GNU screen 4.0.1 and earlier, and 3.9.15 and earlier, allows local users to execute arbitrary code vi
Integer signedness error in ansi.c for GNU screen 4.0.1 and earlier, and 3.9.15 and earlier, allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a large number of ";" (semicolon) characters in escape sequences, which leads to a buffer overflow.
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for help- Published
- Dec 15, 2003
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 3.4% · 88th percentile
- CWE
- —
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Report tools
Action score
41
Plan
Add it to your regular patch cycle.
- CVSS
- 40 / 40 · 10.0 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 3.4%
Affected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| gnu | screen | cpe:2.3:a:gnu:screen |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- gnu screen3.9.10
- gnu screen3.9.11
- gnu screen3.9.13
- gnu screen3.9.15
- gnu screen3.9.4
- gnu screen3.9.8
- gnu screen3.9.9
- gnu screen4.0.1
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | screen | before 4.0.2-0.1 | 4.0.2-0.1 |
| Debian:3.0 | screen | before 3.9.11-5woody1 | 3.9.11-5woody1 |
Same product
gnu: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2021-26937encoding.c in GNU Screen through 4.8.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid write access and application crash) or 42Plan
- CVE-2020-9366A buffer overflow was found in the way GNU Screen before 4.8.0 treated the special escape OSC 49.40Plan
- CVE-2017-5618GNU screen before 4.5.1 allows local users to modify arbitrary files and consequently gain root privileges by leveraging improper checking o31Monitor
- CVE-2007-3048GNU screen 4.0.3 allows local users to unlock the screen via a CTRL-C sequence at the password prompt.28Monitor
- CVE-2023-24626socket.c in GNU Screen through 4.9.0, when installed setuid or setgid (the default on platforms such as Arch Linux and FreeBSD), allows loca26Monitor
- CVE-2009-1214GNU screen 4.0.3 creates the /tmp/screen-exchange temporary file with world-readable permissions, which might allow local users to obtain se19Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:screen | 4.0.2-0.1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
- No special conditions are required; it is repeatable.
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
—
CVSS vector
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
MITRE has no CAPEC/ATT&CK mapping for this CWE.
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- distro.conectiva.com.br/atualizacoes/?id=a&anuncio=000809
- groups.yahoo.com/group/gnu-screen/message/3118
- marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=106995837813873&w=2
- secunia.com/advisories/10539
- www.debian.org/security/2004/dsa-408
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDKSA-2003:113
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.