CVE-2003-0848: Heap-based buffer overflow in main.c of slocate 2.6, and possibly other versions, may allow local users to gai

Routine

MEDIUM 4.6DOWNGRADE

CVE-2003-0848 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 4.6) affecting slocate. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Heap-based buffer overflow in main.c of slocate 2.6, and possibly other versions, may allow local users to gain privileges via a modified slocate database that causes a negative "pathlen" value to be used.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	4.6 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	1.0% (top 38%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2003-11-17
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: slocate

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2003-11-17 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:03 UTCUpdated Record last modified

slocate slocate DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.1 · 2.2 · 2.3 · 2.4 · 2.5 · 2.6

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.1

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison slocate sudo apt install slocate=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1> sudo apt-mark hold slocate

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

dnf --showduplicates list slocate sudo dnf downgrade slocate-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.1> sudo dnf versionlock add slocate

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: SLocate 2.6 - User-Supplied Database Heap Overflow

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-2003-0848?

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

Is CVE-2003-0848 being exploited?

CVE-2003-0848 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-2003-0848 affect?

CVE-2003-0848 affects slocate. Severity is medium (CVSS 4.6). Heap-based buffer overflow in main.c of slocate 2.6, and possibly other versions, may allow local users to gain privileges via a modified slocate database that causes a negative "pathlen" value to be used.

How urgent is CVE-2003-0848?

Priority 37/100. Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2007-0227 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE slocate 3.1 does not properly manage database entries that specify names of files in protected directories, wh
CVE-2003-0326 MEDIUM 4.6 MITIGATE Integer overflow in parse_decode_path() of slocate may allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via a LOCATE_
CVE-2003-0056 HIGH 7.2 DOWNGRADE Buffer overflow in secure locate (slocate) before 2.7 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long

References

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