How severe is CVE-2009-0538?

CVE-2009-0538 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2009-0538 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (30th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2009-0538?

CVE-2009-0538 primarily affects Symantec Pcanywhere. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2009-0538?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2009-0538 published?

CVE-2009-0538 was published on 2009-03-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2009-0538

CVE-2009-0538 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Symantec Pcanywhere with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-134.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.6)
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (30th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-134
Affected product: Symantec Pcanywhere
Published: 2009-03-18
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Format string vulnerability in Symantec pcAnywhere before 12.5 SP1 allows local users to read and modify arbitrary memory locations, and cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact, via format string specifiers in the pathname of a remote control file (aka .CHF file).

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2009-0538?: Format string vulnerability in Symantec pcAnywhere before 12.5 SP1 allows local users to read and modify arbitrary memory locations, and cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact, via format string specifiers in the pathname of a remote control file (aka .CHF file).
How severe is CVE-2009-0538?: CVE-2009-0538 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.6, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2009-0538 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (30th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2009-0538?: CVE-2009-0538 primarily affects Symantec Pcanywhere. In total, 9 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2009-0538?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2009-0538 published?: CVE-2009-0538 was published on 2009-03-18 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (9)

cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:10.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:11.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:symantec:pcanywhere:12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Symantec Pcanywhere

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CVE-2005-1970 — High (CVSS 7.2): Symantec pcAnywhere 10.5x and 11.x before 11.5, with "Launch with Windows" enabled, allows local users with physical…

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CVE-2011-1568 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerability in the logText function in shmemmgr9.dll in IGSSdataServer.exe 9.00.00.11074, and…
CVE-2010-4235 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Format string vulnerability in RealNetworks Helix Server 12.x, 13.x, and 14.x before 14.2, and Helix Mobile Server…
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