CVE-2002-1369: jobs.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly use the strncat function

This week

HIGH 10.0DOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2002-1369 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting cups, mac os x. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

jobs.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly use the strncat function call when processing the options string, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow attack.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 5%: 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	8.2% (top 5%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2002-12-26
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: apple · easy software products

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-12-26 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 21:59 UTCUpdated Record last modified

easy software products cups DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.0.4 · 1.0.4_8 · 1.1.1 · 1.1.4 · 1.1.4_2 · 1.1.4_3 · 1.1.4_5 · 1.1.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0.4

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.0.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cups sudo apt install cups=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0.4> sudo apt-mark hold cups

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

dnf --showduplicates list cups sudo dnf downgrade cups-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0.4> sudo dnf versionlock add cups

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.

apple mac os x MITIGATE

Affected: 10.2 · 10.2.2

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.2

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-2002-1369?

cups: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; mac os x: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2002-1369 being exploited?

CVE-2002-1369 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-2002-1369 affect?

CVE-2002-1369 affects cups, mac os x. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). jobs.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly use the strncat function call when processing the options string, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow attack.

How urgent is CVE-2002-1369?

Priority 64/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

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CVE-2026-39314 MEDIUM 4.0 UPGRADE OpenPrinting CUPS is an open source printing system for Linux and other Unix-like operating systems
CVE-2026-107885 LOW 3.3 UPGRADE OpenPrinting CUPS through 2.4.20 contains a resource-exhaustion vulnerability in the submission-timeout handli

References

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