VDB-15467 · CVE-2000-0271 · BID 1125

GNU Emacs up to 20.6 Lisp read-passwd cleartext storage

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as problematic has been reported in GNU Emacs up to 20.6. Affected by this issue is the function read-passwd of the component Lisp Handler. The manipulation leads to cleartext storage. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2000-0271. No exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in GNU Emacs up to 20.6 (Word Processing Software) and classified as problematic. This issue affects the function read-passwd of the component Lisp Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a cleartext storage vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-312. The product stores sensitive information in cleartext within a resource that might be accessible to another control sphere. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

read-passwd and other Lisp functions in Emacs 20 do not properly clear the history of recently typed keys, which allows an attacker to read unencrypted passwords.

The weakness was disclosed 04/18/2000 with US-CERT (Website). It is possible to read the advisory at securityfocus.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2000-0271. The exploitation is known to be easy. Attacking locally is a requirement. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1555 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at SecurityFocus (BID 1125†). The entries VDB-15465 and VDB-15466 are pretty similar. Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.7

VulDB Base Score: 5.9
VulDB Temp Score: 5.7
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Cleartext storage
CWE: CWE-312 / CWE-310
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

04/18/2000 🔍
04/18/2000 +0 days 🔍
04/18/2000 +0 days 🔍
06/24/2014 +5180 days 🔍
04/21/2026 +4319 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: securityfocus.com⛔
Organization: US-CERT
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2000-0271 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2000-0271
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-15467
SecurityFocus: 1125 - GNU Emacs Local Eavesdropping Vulnerabilities

See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 06/24/2014 11:37
Updated: 04/21/2026 05:09
Changes: 06/24/2014 11:37 (51), 05/24/2018 18:18 (4), 04/21/2026 05:09 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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