CVE-2004-1052: Buffer overflow in the getnickuserhost function in BNC 2.8.9, and possibly other versions, allows remote IRC s

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HIGH 10.0WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2004-1052 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 10.0) affecting bnc, debian linux, linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the getnickuserhost function in BNC 2.8.9, and possibly other versions, allows remote IRC servers to execute arbitrary code via an IRC server response that contains many (1) ! (exclamation) or (2) @ (at sign) characters.

Why this priority

Critical severity
On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	10.0 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	3.6% (top 11%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2005-03-01
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: bnc · debian · gentoo

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2005-03-01 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:06 UTCUpdated Record last modified

bnc bnc DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.2.4 · 2.4.6 · 2.4.8 · 2.6 · 2.6.2 · 2.6.4 · 2.8.8 · 2.8.9

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.2.4

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.2.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison bnc sudo apt install bnc=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.2.4> sudo apt-mark hold bnc

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

dnf --showduplicates list bnc sudo dnf downgrade bnc-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.2.4> sudo dnf versionlock add bnc

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.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0

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.

gentoo linux MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

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.

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-2004-1052?

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

Is CVE-2004-1052 being exploited?

CVE-2004-1052 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-2004-1052 affect?

CVE-2004-1052 affects bnc, debian linux, linux. Severity is high (CVSS 10.0). Buffer overflow in the getnickuserhost function in BNC 2.8.9, and possibly other versions, allows remote IRC servers to execute arbitrary code via an IRC server response that contains many (1) ! (exclamation) or (2) @ (at sign) characters.

How urgent is CVE-2004-1052?

Priority 62/100. Critical severity; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

CVE-2004-2612 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE BNC 2.9.0 only grants access when an incorrect password is provided, which allows remote attackers to use the
CVE-2004-1482 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE The sbuf_getmsg function in BNC incorrectly handles backspace characters, which could allow remote attackers t

References

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