CVE-2004-2264

CVE-2004-2264 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Less 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

Format string bug in the open_altfile function in filename.c for GNU less 382, 381, and 358 might allow local users to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via format strings in the LESSOPEN environment variable. NOTE: since less is not setuid or setgid, then this is not a vulnerability unless there are plausible scenarios under which privilege boundaries could be crossed

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2004-2264?
Format string bug in the open_altfile function in filename.c for GNU less 382, 381, and 358 might allow local users to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via format strings in the LESSOPEN environment variable. NOTE: since less is not setuid or setgid, then this is not a vulnerability unless there are plausible scenarios under which privilege boundaries could be crossed
How severe is CVE-2004-2264?
CVE-2004-2264 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.4, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2004-2264 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (79th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2004-2264?
CVE-2004-2264 primarily affects Gnu Less. In total, 3 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2004-2264?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2004-2264 published?
CVE-2004-2264 was published on 2004-12-31 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (3)

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