CVE-2000-0703

CVE-2000-0703 is a high-severity vulnerability in Larry Wall Perl with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

suidperl (aka sperl) does not properly cleanse the escape sequence "~!" before calling /bin/mail to send an error report, which allows local users to gain privileges by setting the "interactive" environmental variable and calling suidperl with a filename that contains the escape sequence.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2000-0703?
suidperl (aka sperl) does not properly cleanse the escape sequence "~!" before calling /bin/mail to send an error report, which allows local users to gain privileges by setting the "interactive" environmental variable and calling suidperl with a filename that contains the escape sequence.
How severe is CVE-2000-0703?
CVE-2000-0703 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2000-0703 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (62nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2000-0703?
CVE-2000-0703 primarily affects Larry Wall Perl. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2000-0703?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2000-0703 published?
CVE-2000-0703 was published on 2000-10-20 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (4)

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