CVE-2003-0428: Unknown vulnerability in the DCERPC (DCE/RPC) dissector in Ethereal 0.9.12 and earlier allows remote attackers

Q: How do I fix CVE-2003-0428?

ethereal: upgrade to newer than 0.9.12. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2003-0428 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0428 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2003-0428 affect?

CVE-2003-0428 affects ethereal. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Unknown vulnerability in the DCERPC (DCE/RPC) dissector in Ethereal 0.9.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a certain NDR string.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2003-0428?

Priority 40/100. EPSS top 10%: very likely to be exploited

This month

MEDIUM 5.0UPGRADE

CVE-2003-0428 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting ethereal. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Unknown vulnerability in the DCERPC (DCE/RPC) dissector in Ethereal 0.9.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a certain NDR string.

Why this priority

EPSS top 10%: very likely to be exploited

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	4.0% (top 10%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2003-07-24
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: ethereal group

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2003-07-24 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

ethereal group ethereal UPGRADE

Affected: <= 0.9.12

Fixed in: newer than 0.9.12

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.9.12 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade ethereal

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade ethereal

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

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-2003-0428?

ethereal: upgrade to newer than 0.9.12. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2003-0428 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0428 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-2003-0428 affect?

CVE-2003-0428 affects ethereal. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Unknown vulnerability in the DCERPC (DCE/RPC) dissector in Ethereal 0.9.12 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a certain NDR string.

How urgent is CVE-2003-0428?

Priority 40/100. EPSS top 10%: very likely to be exploited

Related CVEs

CVE-2010-1455 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The DOCSIS dissector in Wireshark 0.9.6 through 1.0.12 and 1.2.0 through 1.2.7 allows user-assisted remote att
CVE-2007-6121 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.8.16 to 0.99.6 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) vi
CVE-2007-6120 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The Bluetooth SDP dissector Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.99.2 to 0.99.6 allows remote attackers to cause a
CVE-2007-6118 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE The MEGACO dissector in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) 0.9.14 to 0.99.6 allows remote attackers to cause a deni
CVE-2007-6111 HIGH 7.1 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Wireshark (formerly Ethereal) allow remote attackers to cause a denial

References

← Back to latest CVEs