Format string bug in the open_altfile function in filename.c for GNU less 382, 381, and 358 might allow local users to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via format strings in the LESSOPEN environment variable
Published Jul 19, 2005
6.4
MEDIUMCVSS 2.0
EPSS 2.03%
Description
Format string bug in the open_altfile function in filename.c for GNU less 382, 381, and 358 might allow local users to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via format strings in the LESSOPEN environment variable. NOTE: since less is not setuid or setgid, then this is not a vulnerability unless there are plausible scenarios under which privilege boundaries could be crossed
Affected products
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 1, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (9 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 | 2.03% (0.02031) | 80.33th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 2.03% (0.02031) | 78.45th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 0.80% (0.00804) | 72.45th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.17% (0.00165) | 54.53th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Jun 22, 2024 | 0.17% (0.00165) | 53.37th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.17% (0.00165) | 51.37th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 2.79% (0.02791) | 83.03th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 2.79% (0.02791) | 81.34th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 2.79% (0.02791) | 63.84th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
No CWE recorded.
References (5)
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2004-08/0794.html mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISC
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2004-08/0811.html mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISC
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1010988 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- http://www.osvdb.org/9014 vdb-entryx_refsource_OSVDB
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/17032 vdb-entryx_refsource_XF
| Link | Providers | Tags |
|---|---|---|
| http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2004-08/0794.html | mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISC | |
| http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2004-08/0811.html | mailing-listx_refsource_FULLDISC | |
| http://securitytracker.com/id?1010988 | vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK | |
| http://www.osvdb.org/9014 | vdb-entryx_refsource_OSVDB | |
| https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/17032 | vdb-entryx_refsource_XF |
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.