CVE-2002-0542

CVE-2002-0542 is a high-severity vulnerability in Openbsd 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

mail in OpenBSD 2.9 and 3.0 processes a tilde (~) escape character in a message even when it is not in interactive mode, which could allow local users to gain root privileges via calls to mail in cron.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2002-0542?
mail in OpenBSD 2.9 and 3.0 processes a tilde (~) escape character in a message even when it is not in interactive mode, which could allow local users to gain root privileges via calls to mail in cron.
How severe is CVE-2002-0542?
CVE-2002-0542 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2002-0542 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (72nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2002-0542?
CVE-2002-0542 primarily affects Openbsd. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2002-0542?
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-2002-0542 published?
CVE-2002-0542 was published on 2002-07-03 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (2)

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