CVE-2002-2335: Killer Protection 1.0 stores the vars.inc include file under the web root with insufficient access control, wh

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MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2002-2335 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting killer protection. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Killer Protection 1.0 stores the vars.inc include file under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain user names and passwords and log in using protection.php.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	2.7% (top 14%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-16
Published	2002-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: john drake

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2002-12-31 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:01 UTCUpdated Record last modified

john drake killer protection DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy killer-protection || rpm -q killer-protection || killer-protection --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison killer-protection sudo apt install killer-protection=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo apt-mark hold killer-protection

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

dnf --showduplicates list killer-protection sudo dnf downgrade killer-protection-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add killer-protection

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: Killer Protection 1.0 - Information Disclosure

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-2002-2335?

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

Is CVE-2002-2335 being exploited?

CVE-2002-2335 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-2002-2335 affect?

CVE-2002-2335 affects killer protection. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Killer Protection 1.0 stores the vars.inc include file under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to obtain user names and passwords and log in using protection.php.

How urgent is CVE-2002-2335?

Priority 44/100. Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

References

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