How severe is CVE-2002-1979?

CVE-2002-1979 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2002-1979 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-2002-1979?

CVE-2002-1979 primarily affects Watchguard Legacy Rssa. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2002-1979?

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-2002-1979 published?

CVE-2002-1979 was published on 2002-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2002-1979

CVE-2002-1979 is a high-severity vulnerability in Watchguard Legacy Rssa with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-20.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 2% (72nd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Affected product: Watchguard Legacy Rssa
Published: 2002-12-31
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

WatchGuard SOHO products running firmware 5.1.6 and earlier, and Vclass/RSSA using 3.2 SP1 and earlier, allows remote attackers to bypass firewall rules by sending a PASV command string as the argument of another command to an FTP server, which generates a response that contains the string, causing IPFilter to treat the response as if it were a legitimate PASV command from the server.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2002-1979?: WatchGuard SOHO products running firmware 5.1.6 and earlier, and Vclass/RSSA using 3.2 SP1 and earlier, allows remote attackers to bypass firewall rules by sending a PASV command string as the argument of another command to an FTP server, which generates a response that contains the string, causing IPFilter to treat the response as if it were a legitimate PASV command from the server.
How severe is CVE-2002-1979?: CVE-2002-1979 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2002-1979 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-2002-1979?: CVE-2002-1979 primarily affects Watchguard Legacy Rssa. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2002-1979?: 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-2002-1979 published?: CVE-2002-1979 was published on 2002-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (3)

cpe:2.3:h:watchguard:legacy_rssa:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:watchguard:soho:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:h:watchguard:vclass:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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