CVE-2003-0539: skk (Simple Kana to Kanji conversion program) 12.1 and earlier, and the ddskk package which is based on skk, c

Routine

MEDIUM 4.6WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2003-0539 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.6) affecting ddskk, daredevil skk, ddskk-xemacs. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

skk (Simple Kana to Kanji conversion program) 12.1 and earlier, and the ddskk package which is based on skk, creates temporary files insecurely, which allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.6 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2003-08-18
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: ddskk · redhat · skk

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2003-08-18 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:02 UTCUpdated Record last modified

ddskk ddskk DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.6_.rel.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.6_.rel.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.6_.rel.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ddskk sudo apt install ddskk=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.6_.rel.0> sudo apt-mark hold ddskk

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

dnf --showduplicates list ddskk sudo dnf downgrade ddskk-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.6_.rel.0> sudo dnf versionlock add ddskk

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.

redhat daredevil skk DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.3.2 · 11.3.5 · 11.6.0-6 · 11.6.0-8 · 11.6.0-10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.3.2

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy daredevil-skk || rpm -q daredevil-skk || daredevil-skk --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.3.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison daredevil-skk sudo apt install daredevil-skk=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.3.2> sudo apt-mark hold daredevil-skk

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

dnf --showduplicates list daredevil-skk sudo dnf downgrade daredevil-skk-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.3.2> sudo dnf versionlock add daredevil-skk

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.

redhat ddskk-xemacs DOWNGRADE

Affected: 11.6.0-6 · 11.6.0-8 · 11.6.0-10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 11.6.0-6

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy ddskk-xemacs || rpm -q ddskk-xemacs || ddskk-xemacs --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 11.6.0-6 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison ddskk-xemacs sudo apt install ddskk-xemacs=<VERSION_BEFORE_11.6.0-6> sudo apt-mark hold ddskk-xemacs

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

dnf --showduplicates list ddskk-xemacs sudo dnf downgrade ddskk-xemacs-<VERSION_BEFORE_11.6.0-6> sudo dnf versionlock add ddskk-xemacs

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.

skk skk DOWNGRADE

Affected: 10.62a

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.62a

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 10.62a (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison skk sudo apt install skk=<VERSION_BEFORE_10.62a> sudo apt-mark hold skk

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

dnf --showduplicates list skk sudo dnf downgrade skk-<VERSION_BEFORE_10.62a> sudo dnf versionlock add skk

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.

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-2003-0539?

ddskk: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; daredevil skk: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; ddskk-xemacs: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2003-0539 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0539 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-2003-0539 affect?

CVE-2003-0539 affects ddskk, daredevil skk, ddskk-xemacs. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.6). skk (Simple Kana to Kanji conversion program) 12.1 and earlier, and the ddskk package which is based on skk, creates temporary files insecurely, which allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files.

How urgent is CVE-2003-0539?

Priority 28/100. On your watchlist

References

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