CVE-2004-2012

CVE-2004-2012 is a high-severity vulnerability in Niels Provos Systrace 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

The systrace_exit function in the systrace utility for NetBSD-current and 2.0 before April 16, 2004, and certain FreeBSD ports, does not verify the owner of the /dec/systrace connection before setting euid to 0, which allows local users to gain root privileges.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2004-2012?
The systrace_exit function in the systrace utility for NetBSD-current and 2.0 before April 16, 2004, and certain FreeBSD ports, does not verify the owner of the /dec/systrace connection before setting euid to 0, which allows local users to gain root privileges.
How severe is CVE-2004-2012?
CVE-2004-2012 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.2, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2004-2012 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (54th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2004-2012?
CVE-2004-2012 primarily affects Niels Provos Systrace. In total, 8 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2004-2012?
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-2004-2012 published?
CVE-2004-2012 was published on 2004-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (8)