CVE-2003-1232

CVE-2003-1232 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Emacs with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

Emacs 21.2.1 does not prompt or warn the user before executing Lisp code in the local variables section of a text file, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands, as demonstrated using the mode-name variable.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2003-1232?
Emacs 21.2.1 does not prompt or warn the user before executing Lisp code in the local variables section of a text file, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary commands, as demonstrated using the mode-name variable.
How severe is CVE-2003-1232?
CVE-2003-1232 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 5.1, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2003-1232 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2003-1232?
CVE-2003-1232 affects Gnu Emacs. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2003-1232?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2003-1232 published?
CVE-2003-1232 was published on 2003-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

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