CVE-2003-0015: Double-free vulnerability in CVS 1.11.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and p

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HIGH 7.5MITIGATEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2003-0015 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.5) affecting freebsd, cvs. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Double-free vulnerability in CVS 1.11.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed Directory request, as demonstrated by bypassing write checks to execute Update-prog and Checkin-prog commands.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 2%: 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	23.9% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-415
Published	2003-02-07
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: cvs · freebsd

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2003-02-07 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:01 UTCUpdated Record last modified

freebsd freebsd MITIGATE

Affected: 4.4 · 4.5 · 4.6 · 4.7 · 5.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.4

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.

cvs cvs DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.10.7 · 1.10.8 · 1.11 · 1.11.1 · 1.11.1p1 · 1.11.2 · 1.11.3 · 1.11.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.10.7

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.10.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cvs sudo apt install cvs=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.10.7> sudo apt-mark hold cvs

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

dnf --showduplicates list cvs sudo dnf downgrade cvs-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.10.7> sudo dnf versionlock add cvs

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: CVS 1.11.x - Directory Request Double-Free Heap Corruption

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-2003-0015?

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

Is CVE-2003-0015 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0015 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-2003-0015 affect?

CVE-2003-0015 affects freebsd, cvs. Severity is high (CVSS 7.5). Double-free vulnerability in CVS 1.11.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed Directory request, as demonstrated by bypassing write checks to execute Update-prog

How urgent is CVE-2003-0015?

Priority 56/100. High severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

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References

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