CVE-2004-2012: The systrace_exit function in the systrace utility for NetBSD-current and 2.0 before April 16, 2004, and certa

This month

HIGH 7.2DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2004-2012 is a high-severity flaw (CVSS 7.2) affecting provos systrace, systrace port for freebsd, netbsd. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The systrace_exit function in the systrace utility for NetBSD-current and 2.0 before April 16, 2004, and certain FreeBSD ports, does not verify the owner of the /dec/systrace connection before setting euid to 0, which allows local users to gain root privileges.

Why this priority

High severity
Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	7.2 (High)
EPSS exploit chance	0.9% (top 42%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: netbsd · niels · vladimir kotal

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 22:08 UTCUpdated Record last modified

niels provos systrace DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.1 · 1.2 · 1.3 · 1.4 · 1.5

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.1

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy provos-systrace || rpm -q provos-systrace || provos-systrace --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison provos-systrace sudo apt install provos-systrace=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1> sudo apt-mark hold provos-systrace

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

dnf --showduplicates list provos-systrace sudo dnf downgrade provos-systrace-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.1> sudo dnf versionlock add provos-systrace

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.

vladimir kotal systrace port for freebsd DOWNGRADE

Affected: 2004-03-09 · 2004-06-02

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2004-03-09

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy systrace-port-for-freebsd || rpm -q systrace-port-for-freebsd || systrace-port-for-freebsd --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2004-03-09 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison systrace-port-for-freebsd sudo apt install systrace-port-for-freebsd=<VERSION_BEFORE_2004-03-09> sudo apt-mark hold systrace-port-for-freebsd

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

dnf --showduplicates list systrace-port-for-freebsd sudo dnf downgrade systrace-port-for-freebsd-<VERSION_BEFORE_2004-03-09> sudo dnf versionlock add systrace-port-for-freebsd

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.

netbsd netbsd MITIGATE

Affected: 2.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0

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.

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: NetBSD/FreeBSD Port Systrace 1.x - Exit Routine Access Validation Privilege Escalation

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-2004-2012?

provos systrace: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; systrace port for freebsd: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; netbsd: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-2012 being exploited?

CVE-2004-2012 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-2004-2012 affect?

CVE-2004-2012 affects provos systrace, systrace port for freebsd, netbsd. Severity is high (CVSS 7.2). The systrace_exit function in the systrace utility for NetBSD-current and 2.0 before April 16, 2004, and certain FreeBSD ports, does not verify the owner of the /dec/systrace connection before setting euid to 0, which allows local users to

How urgent is CVE-2004-2012?

Priority 45/100. High severity; Public exploit reference

References

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