CVE-2007-5894

CVE-2007-5894 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Mit Kerberos 5 with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

The reply function in ftpd.c in the gssftp ftpd in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) does not initialize the length variable when auth_type has a certain value, which has unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors. NOTE: the original disclosure misidentifies the conditions under which the uninitialized variable is used. NOTE: the vendor disputes this issue, stating " The 'length' variable is only uninitialized if 'auth_type' is neither the 'KERBEROS_V4' nor 'GSSAPI'; this condition cannot occur in the unmodified source code.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2007-5894?
The reply function in ftpd.c in the gssftp ftpd in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) does not initialize the length variable when auth_type has a certain value, which has unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors. NOTE: the original disclosure misidentifies the conditions under which the uninitialized variable is used. NOTE: the vendor disputes this issue, stating " The 'length' variable is only uninitialized if 'auth_type' is neither the 'KERBEROS_V4' nor 'GSSAPI'; this condition cannot occur in the unmodified source code.
How severe is CVE-2007-5894?
CVE-2007-5894 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2007-5894 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (84th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2007-5894?
CVE-2007-5894 affects Mit Kerberos 5. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2007-5894?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2007-5894 published?
CVE-2007-5894 was published on 2007-12-06 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

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