How severe is CVE-2002-0403?

CVE-2002-0403 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2002-0403 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2002-0403?

CVE-2002-0403 primarily affects Ethereal Group Ethereal. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2002-0403?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2002-0403 published?

CVE-2002-0403 was published on 2002-06-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2002-0403

CVE-2002-0403 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Ethereal Group Ethereal with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 5.0)
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (82nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Ethereal Group Ethereal
Published: 2002-06-18
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

DNS dissector in Ethereal before 0.9.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a malformed packet that causes Ethereal to enter an infinite loop.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2002-0403?: DNS dissector in Ethereal before 0.9.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a malformed packet that causes Ethereal to enter an infinite loop.
How severe is CVE-2002-0403?: CVE-2002-0403 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.0, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2002-0403 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2002-0403?: CVE-2002-0403 primarily affects Ethereal Group Ethereal. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2002-0403?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2002-0403 published?: CVE-2002-0403 was published on 2002-06-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (4)

cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:ethereal_group:ethereal:0.9_.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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