CVE-2004-2043: Buffer overflow in ibserver for Firebird Database 1.0 and other versions before 1.5, and possibly other produc

This week

MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADEDOWNGRADEDOWNGRADE

CVE-2004-2043 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting interbase, interbase superserver, firebird. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in ibserver for Firebird Database 1.0 and other versions before 1.5, and possibly other products that use the InterBase codebase, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long database name, as demonstrated using the gsec command.

Why this priority

EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

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

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	11.9% (top 4%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2004-05-01
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: borland software · firebirdsql

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2004-05-01 04:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:08 UTCUpdated Record last modified

borland software interbase DOWNGRADE

Affected: 4.0 · 5.0 · 6.0 · 6.4 · 6.5 · 7.0 · 7.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 4.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison interbase sudo apt install interbase=<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo apt-mark hold interbase

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

dnf --showduplicates list interbase sudo dnf downgrade interbase-<VERSION_BEFORE_4.0> sudo dnf versionlock add interbase

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.

borland software interbase superserver DOWNGRADE

Affected: 6.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 6.0

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy interbase-superserver || rpm -q interbase-superserver || interbase-superserver --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison interbase-superserver sudo apt install interbase-superserver=<VERSION_BEFORE_6.0> sudo apt-mark hold interbase-superserver

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

dnf --showduplicates list interbase-superserver sudo dnf downgrade interbase-superserver-<VERSION_BEFORE_6.0> sudo dnf versionlock add interbase-superserver

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.

firebirdsql firebird DOWNGRADE

Affected: 1.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.0

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison firebird sudo apt install firebird=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo apt-mark hold firebird

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

dnf --showduplicates list firebird sudo dnf downgrade firebird-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.0> sudo dnf versionlock add firebird

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.

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: Borland Interbase 7.x - Remote Buffer Overflow
Exploit-DB: Firebird 1.0 - Remote Database Name Buffer Overrun

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-2004-2043?

interbase: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; interbase superserver: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; firebird: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2004-2043 being exploited?

CVE-2004-2043 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-2004-2043 affect?

CVE-2004-2043 affects interbase, interbase superserver, firebird. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Buffer overflow in ibserver for Firebird Database 1.0 and other versions before 1.5, and possibly other products that use the InterBase codebase, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a long database name, as demo

How urgent is CVE-2004-2043?

Priority 47/100. EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2008-1910 HIGH 10.0 DOWNGRADE Stack-based buffer overflow in the database service (ibserver.exe) in Borland InterBase 2007 SP2 allows remote
CVE-2007-5244 HIGH 9.3 DOWNGRADE Stack-based buffer overflow in Borland InterBase LI 8.0.0.53 through 8.1.0.253 on Linux, and possibly unspecif
CVE-2007-5243 HIGH 9.3 DOWNGRADE Multiple stack-based buffer overflows in Borland InterBase LI 8.0.0.53 through 8.1.0.253, and WI 5.1.1.680 thr
CVE-2007-3566 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE Stack-based buffer overflow in the database service (ibserver.exe) in Borland InterBase 2007 before SP2 allows
CVE-2004-1833 HIGH 7.5 DOWNGRADE The admin.ib file in Borland Interbase 7.1 for Linux has default world writable permissions, which allows loca

References

← Back to latest CVEs