CVE-2002-1371: filters/image-gif.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly check for ze

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HIGH 7.5DOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2002-1371 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting cups, mac os x. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

filters/image-gif.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly check for zero-length GIF images, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via modified chunk headers, as demonstrated by nogif.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 8%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.5 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	4.9% (top 8%)
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-2002-1371?

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-2002-1371 being exploited?

CVE-2002-1371 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-2002-1371 affect?

CVE-2002-1371 affects cups, mac os x. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). filters/image-gif.c in Common Unix Printing System (CUPS) 1.1.14 through 1.1.17 does not properly check for zero-length GIF images, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via modified chunk headers, as demonstrated by nogif

How urgent is CVE-2002-1371?

Priority 54/100. High severity; EPSS top 8%: 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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