CVE-2004-1377: The (1) fixps (aka fixps.in) and (2) psmandup (aka psmandup.in) scripts in a2ps before 4.13 allow local users

Routine

LOW 2.1WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2004-1377 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 2.1) affecting a2ps, turbolinux home, turbolinux server. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The (1) fixps (aka fixps.in) and (2) psmandup (aka psmandup.in) scripts in a2ps before 4.13 allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

Why this priority

On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	2.1 (Low)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 70%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-12-27
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: gnu · turbolinux

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2004-12-27 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:07 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnu a2ps DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.13 · 4.13b

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.13

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy a2ps || rpm -q a2ps || a2ps --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.13 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison a2ps sudo apt install a2ps=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.13> sudo apt-mark hold a2ps

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

dnf --showduplicates list a2ps sudo dnf downgrade a2ps-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.13> sudo dnf versionlock add a2ps

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.

turbolinux turbolinux home 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.

turbolinux turbolinux server MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

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.

turbolinux turbolinux workstation MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0 · 8.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

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.

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-2004-1377?

a2ps: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; turbolinux home: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; turbolinux server: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-1377 being exploited?

CVE-2004-1377 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-2004-1377 affect?

CVE-2004-1377 affects a2ps, turbolinux home, turbolinux server. Severity is low (CVSS 2.1). The (1) fixps (aka fixps.in) and (2) psmandup (aka psmandup.in) scripts in a2ps before 4.13 allow local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on temporary files.

How urgent is CVE-2004-1377?

Priority 20/100. On your watchlist

Related CVEs

CVE-2015-8107 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE Format string vulnerability in GNU a2ps 4.14 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code.
CVE-2014-0466 MEDIUM 6.8 DOWNGRADE The fixps script in a2ps 4.14 does not use the -dSAFER option when executing gs, which allows context-dependen
CVE-2004-1170 HIGH 10.0 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE a2ps 4.13 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the filename.
CVE-2001-1593 LOW 2.1 UPGRADE The tempname_ensure function in lib/routines.h in a2ps 4.14 and earlier, as used by the spy_user function and

References

← Back to latest CVEs