CVE-2004-1471: Format string vulnerability in wrapper.c in CVS 1.12.x through 1.12.8, and 1.11.x through 1.11.16 allows remot

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HIGH 7.1WATCHLISTDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2004-1471 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.1) affecting cvs, openpkg, propack. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Format string vulnerability in wrapper.c in CVS 1.12.x through 1.12.8, and 1.11.x through 1.11.16 allows remote attackers with CVSROOT commit access to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in a wrapper line.

Why this priority

High severity
EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.1 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	7.7% (top 5%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: cvs · freebsd · gentoo · openbsd · openpkg · sgi

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2004-12-31 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:07 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cvs cvs DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.10.7 · 1.10.8 · 1.11 · 1.11.1 · 1.11.1_p1 · 1.11.2 · 1.11.3 · 1.11.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.10.7

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.10.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cvs sudo apt install cvs=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.10.7> sudo apt-mark hold cvs

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

dnf --showduplicates list cvs sudo dnf downgrade cvs-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.10.7> sudo dnf versionlock add cvs

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.

openpkg openpkg DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.3 · 2.0 · current

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.3

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison openpkg sudo apt install openpkg=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.3> sudo apt-mark hold openpkg

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

dnf --showduplicates list openpkg sudo dnf downgrade openpkg-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.3> sudo dnf versionlock add openpkg

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.

sgi propack DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2.4 · 3.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.4

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison propack sudo apt install propack=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4> sudo apt-mark hold propack

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

dnf --showduplicates list propack sudo dnf downgrade propack-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.4> sudo dnf versionlock add propack

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.

freebsd freebsd MITIGATE

Affected: 1.1.5.1 · 2.0 · 2.0.5 · 2.1.0 · 2.1.5 · 2.1.6 · 2.1.6.1 · 2.1.7.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.1.5.1

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: 1.4

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.4

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.

openbsd openbsd MITIGATE

Affected: 3.4 · 3.5 · current

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.4

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.

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: CVS 1.11.x - Multiple Vulnerabilities

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-2004-1471?

cvs: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; openpkg: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; propack: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-1471 being exploited?

CVE-2004-1471 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-2004-1471 affect?

CVE-2004-1471 affects cvs, openpkg, propack. Severity is high (CVSS 7.1). Format string vulnerability in wrapper.c in CVS 1.12.x through 1.12.8, and 1.11.x through 1.11.16 allows remote attackers with CVSROOT commit access to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via fo

How urgent is CVE-2004-1471?

Priority 59/100. High severity; EPSS top 5%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

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References

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