CVE-2002-0970: The SSL capability for Konqueror in KDE 3.0.2 and earlier does not verify the Basic Constraints for an interme

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HIGH 7.5DOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2002-0970 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting konqueror, kde. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The SSL capability for Konqueror in KDE 3.0.2 and earlier does not verify the Basic Constraints for an intermediate CA-signed certificate, which allows remote attackers to spoof the certificates of trusted sites via a man-in-the-middle attack.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	2.8% (top 13%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2002-09-24
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: kde

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-09-24 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:58 UTCUpdated Record last modified

kde konqueror DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.2.2 · 3.0 · 3.0.1 · 3.0.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.2.2

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.2.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison konqueror sudo apt install konqueror=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.2.2> sudo apt-mark hold konqueror

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

dnf --showduplicates list konqueror sudo dnf downgrade konqueror-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.2.2> sudo dnf versionlock add konqueror

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.

kde kde MITIGATE

Affected: 2.2.2 · 3.0 · 3.0.1 · 3.0.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.2.2

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

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-2002-0970?

konqueror: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; kde: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-0970 being exploited?

CVE-2002-0970 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-2002-0970 affect?

CVE-2002-0970 affects konqueror, kde. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). The SSL capability for Konqueror in KDE 3.0.2 and earlier does not verify the Basic Constraints for an intermediate CA-signed certificate, which allows remote attackers to spoof the certificates of trusted sites via a man-in-the-middle atta

How urgent is CVE-2002-0970?

Priority 53/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2009-2537 MEDIUM 4.3 MITIGATE KDE Konqueror allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a large integer va
CVE-2008-5712 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE The HTML parser in KDE Konqueror 3.5.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash
CVE-2008-5698 MEDIUM 4.3 MITIGATE HTMLTokenizer::scriptHandler in Konqueror in KDE 3.5.9 and 3.5.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of
CVE-2008-4514 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE The HTML parser in KDE Konqueror 3.5.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash
CVE-2008-4382 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE Konqueror in KDE 3.5.9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via Javascript

References

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