CVE-2003-0885

CVE-2003-0885 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Xscreensaver with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.4. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

Xscreensaver 4.14 contains certain debugging code that should have been omitted, which causes Xscreensaver to create temporary files insecurely in the (1) apple2, (2) xanalogtv, and (3) pong screensavers, and allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2003-0885?
Xscreensaver 4.14 contains certain debugging code that should have been omitted, which causes Xscreensaver to create temporary files insecurely in the (1) apple2, (2) xanalogtv, and (3) pong screensavers, and allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack.
How severe is CVE-2003-0885?
CVE-2003-0885 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.4, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2003-0885 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (67th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2003-0885?
CVE-2003-0885 affects Xscreensaver. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2003-0885?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2003-0885 published?
CVE-2003-0885 was published on 2003-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

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