CVE-2004-0386: Buffer overflow in the HTTP parser for MPlayer 1.0pre3 and earlier, 0.90, and 0.91 allows remote attackers to

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HIGH 10.0WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2004-0386 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting mplayer, linux, mandrake linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the HTTP parser for MPlayer 1.0pre3 and earlier, 0.90, and 0.91 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long Location header.

Why this priority

Critical severity
EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	27.0% (top 2%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-05-04
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: gentoo · mandrakesoft · mplayer

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2004-05-04 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:05 UTCUpdated Record last modified

mplayer mplayer DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.90 · 0.90_pre · 0.90_rc · 0.91 · 1.0_pre1 · 1.0_pre2 · 1.0_pre3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.90

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.90 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison mplayer sudo apt install mplayer=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.90> sudo apt-mark hold mplayer

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

dnf --showduplicates list mplayer sudo dnf downgrade mplayer-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.90> sudo dnf versionlock add mplayer

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.

gentoo linux MITIGATE

Affected: 0.5 · 0.7 · 1.1a · 1.2 · 1.4 · 1.4 rc1 · 1.4 rc2 · 1.4 rc3

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.5

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.

mandrakesoft mandrake linux MITIGATE

Affected: 9.2 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 9.2

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.

Exact fixes by distribution

A distro patch exists: prefer upgrading over downgrading.

Fedora ELN · fuse-sshfs · FIXED · 3.7.6-3.eln159 · FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-bcb7be7c5c

Fedora 46 · python-odata-query · FIXED · 0.10.1-1.fc46 · FEDORA-2026-eab44dc513 · source

sudo dnf upgrade --advisory=FEDORA-2026-eab44dc513

Debian 12 · mplayer · FIXED · 1.0~pre6a-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade mplayer dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' mplayer)" ge "1.0~pre6a-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

Debian 13 · mplayer · FIXED · 1.0~pre6a-1

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade mplayer dpkg --compare-versions "$(dpkg-query -W -f='${Version}' mplayer)" ge "1.0~pre6a-1" && echo PATCHED || echo STILL-VULNERABLE

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: MPlayer 0.9/1.0 - Remote HTTP Header Buffer 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-2004-0386?

mplayer: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; mandrake linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-0386 being exploited?

CVE-2004-0386 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-2004-0386 affect?

CVE-2004-0386 affects mplayer, linux, mandrake linux. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Buffer overflow in the HTTP parser for MPlayer 1.0pre3 and earlier, 0.90, and 0.91 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long Location header.

How urgent is CVE-2004-0386?

Priority 70/100. Critical severity; EPSS top 2%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Related CVEs

CVE-2022-38866 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via read_avi_header() of libmpdemux/avi
CVE-2022-38865 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Divide By Zero via the function demux_avi_read_packet o
CVE-2022-38864 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via the function mp_unescape03() of lib
CVE-2022-38863 MEDIUM 5.5 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via function mp_getbits() of libmpdemux
CVE-2022-38862 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE Certain The MPlayer Project products are vulnerable to Buffer Overflow via function play() of libaf/af.c:639

References

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