CVE-2002-0525: Format string vulnerabilities in (1) inews or (2) rnews for INN 2.2.3 and earlier allow local users and remote

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HIGH 10.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2002-0525 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting inn. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Format string vulnerabilities in (1) inews or (2) rnews for INN 2.2.3 and earlier allow local users and remote malicious NNTP servers to gain privileges via format string specifiers in NTTP responses.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	4.1% (top 9%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2002-08-12
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: isc

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-08-12 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:57 UTCUpdated Record last modified

isc inn DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.0 · 2.1 · 2.2 · 2.2.1 · 2.2.2 · 2.2.3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy inn || rpm -q inn || inn --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison inn sudo apt install inn=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo apt-mark hold inn

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list inn sudo dnf downgrade inn-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0> sudo dnf versionlock add inn

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: ISC INN 2.0/2.1/2.2.x - Multiple Local Format String Vulnerabilities

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2002-0525?

inn: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-0525 being exploited?

CVE-2002-0525 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2002-0525 affect?

CVE-2002-0525 affects inn. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Format string vulnerabilities in (1) inews or (2) rnews for INN 2.2.3 and earlier allow local users and remote malicious NNTP servers to gain privileges via format string specifiers in NTTP responses.

How urgent is CVE-2002-0525?

Priority 63/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

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References

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