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CVE-2003-0478: Format string vulnerability in (1) Bahamut IRCd 1.4.35 and earlier, and other IRC daemons based on Bahamut inc

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HIGH 10.0DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2003-0478 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting adromedeircd, methane, digatech. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Format string vulnerability in (1) Bahamut IRCd 1.4.35 and earlier, and other IRC daemons based on Bahamut including (2) digatech 1.2.1, (3) methane 0.1.1, (4) AndromedeIRCd 1.2.3-Release, and (5) ircd-RU, when running in debug mode, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a request containing format strings.

Why this priority

  • Critical severity
  • EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
  • Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance12.3% (top 4%)
CISA exploited listNo
Published2003-08-07
Last modified2026-06-16
Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: andromede · bahamut · daniel moss · hans westerhof · wenet

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

andromede adromedeircd DOWNGRADE
Affected: 1.2.3
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.2.3
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy adromedeircd || rpm -q adromedeircd || adromedeircd --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.2.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison adromedeircd sudo apt install adromedeircd=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2.3> sudo apt-mark hold adromedeircd
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list adromedeircd sudo dnf downgrade adromedeircd-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2.3> sudo dnf versionlock add adromedeircd
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.
daniel moss methane DOWNGRADE
Affected: 0.1.1
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.1.1
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy methane || rpm -q methane || methane --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.1.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison methane sudo apt install methane=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.1.1> sudo apt-mark hold methane
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list methane sudo dnf downgrade methane-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.1.1> sudo dnf versionlock add methane
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.
hans westerhof digatech DOWNGRADE
Affected: 1.2.1
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.2.1
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy digatech || rpm -q digatech || digatech --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.2.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison digatech sudo apt install digatech=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2.1> sudo apt-mark hold digatech
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list digatech sudo dnf downgrade digatech-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.2.1> sudo dnf versionlock add digatech
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.
wenet ircd-ru MITIGATE
Affected: all versions
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy ircd-ru || rpm -q ircd-ru || ircd-ru --version
No fixed or unaffected release known
Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory, disable the affected feature, or restrict network access.
bahamut ircd UPGRADE
Affected: <= 1.4.35
Fixed in: newer than 1.4.35
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
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.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

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-2003-0478?

adromedeircd: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; methane: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; digatech: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2003-0478 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0478 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-2003-0478 affect?

CVE-2003-0478 affects adromedeircd, methane, digatech. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Format string vulnerability in (1) Bahamut IRCd 1.4.35 and earlier, and other IRC daemons based on Bahamut including (2) digatech 1.2.1, (3) methane 0.1.1, (4) AndromedeIRCd 1.2.3-Release, and (5) ircd-RU, when running in debug mode, allows

How urgent is CVE-2003-0478?

Priority 64/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

References

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