GNU groff up to 1.16.1 -S format string

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in GNU groff up to 1.16.1. This impacts an unknown function. Executing a manipulation of the argument -S can lead to format string. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2001-1022. Moreover, an exploit is present. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in GNU groff up to 1.16.1. This vulnerability affects an unknown code block. The manipulation of the argument -S with an unknown input leads to a format string vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-134. The product uses a function that accepts a format string as an argument, but the format string originates from an external source. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Format string vulnerability in pic utility in groff 1.16.1 and other versions, and jgroff before 1.15, allows remote attackers to bypass the -S option and execute arbitrary commands via format string specifiers in the plot command.

The bug was discovered 06/23/2001. The weakness was disclosed 07/26/2001 by zen-parse (Website). The advisory is shared for download at debian.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2001-1022. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details and also a public exploit are known.

A public exploit has been developed in ANSI C and been published immediately after the advisory. It is possible to download the exploit at securityfocus.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 33 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 14909 (Debian DSA-072-1 : groff - printf format attack), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family Debian Local Security Checks and running in the context l. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 38066 (Remote Linux Groff Exploitation via lpd).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published 3 weeks after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (6918), Exploit-DB (21037), Tenable (14909), SecurityFocus (BID 3103†) and OSVDB (1914†). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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Exploitinginfo

Class: Format string
CWE: CWE-134 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 14909
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-072-1 : groff - printf format attack
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53822
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 072-1 (groff)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
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Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

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Timelineinfo

06/23/2001 🔍
07/26/2001 +33 days 🔍
07/26/2001 +0 days 🔍
07/26/2001 +0 days 🔍
07/26/2001 +0 days 🔍
07/26/2001 +0 days 🔍
08/10/2001 +15 days 🔍
02/21/2003 +560 days 🔍
09/29/2004 +585 days 🔍
12/29/2004 +91 days 🔍
07/07/2014 +3477 days 🔍
09/30/2025 +4103 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: gnu.org

Advisory: debian.org
Researcher: zen-parse
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2001-1022 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2001-1022
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-17092
X-Force: 6918
SecurityFocus: 3103 - Remote Linux Groff Exploitation Via LPD Vulnerability
Secunia: 7249
OSVDB: 1914 - Groff pic Utility Format String Remote Command Execution
Vulnerability Center: 6648 - Code Execution in GNU groff <= 1.16, jgroff 1.15, NetBSD <= 1.6 via 'pic\x27 Utility, Medium

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013

Entryinfo

Created: 07/07/2014 16:18
Updated: 09/30/2025 07:03
Changes: 07/07/2014 16:18 (84), 05/28/2019 17:10 (1), 11/23/2024 18:57 (19), 09/30/2025 07:03 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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