KDE up to 3.1.1 PostScript/PDF Document privileges management

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in KDE up to 3.1.1. It has been declared as critical. Affected is an unknown function of the component PostScript/PDF Document Handler. Executing a manipulation can lead to privileges management. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2003-0204. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in KDE up to 3.1.1. This vulnerability affects some unknown processing of the component PostScript/PDF Document Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a privileges management vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-269. The product does not properly assign, modify, track, or check privileges for an actor, creating an unintended sphere of control for that actor. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

KDE 2 and KDE 3.1.1 and earlier 3.x versions allows attackers to execute arbitrary commands via (1) PostScript (PS) or (2) PDF files, related to missing -dPARANOIDSAFER and -dSAFER arguments when using the kghostview Ghostscript viewer.

The bug was discovered 04/09/2003. The weakness was shared 05/05/2003 with KDE Team (Website). The advisory is shared for download at kde.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2003-0204 since 04/14/2003. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1068.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 14 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $0-$5k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 15130 (Debian DSA-293-1 : kdelibs - insecure execution), 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 38376 (Red Hat KDE PDF/PS File Processing Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published even before and not after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (11767), Tenable (15130), SecurityFocus (BID 7318†), OSVDB (13001†) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-6923†). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Version

License

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.0

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 7.0
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
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NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privileges management
CWE: CWE-269 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 15130
Nessus Name: Debian DSA-293-1 : kdelibs - insecure execution
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍
Nessus Context: 🔍
Nessus Port: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 53353
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 284-1 (kdegraphics)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

04/09/2003 🔍
04/09/2003 +0 days 🔍
04/10/2003 +1 days 🔍
04/14/2003 +4 days 🔍
04/23/2003 +9 days 🔍
05/05/2003 +12 days 🔍
05/05/2003 +0 days 🔍
09/29/2004 +513 days 🔍
01/27/2005 +120 days 🔍
08/11/2014 +3483 days 🔍
08/23/2025 +4030 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Advisory: kde.org
Organization: KDE Team
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2003-0204 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2003-0204
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-20404
X-Force: 11767
SecurityFocus: 7318 - KDE Postscript/PDF File Processing Arbitrary Command Execution Vulnerability
OSVDB: 13001 - KDE PostScript (PS) and PDF shell command execution
Vulnerability Center: 6923 - Code Execution in KDE <= 3.1.1 via PostScript or PDF Files, Medium

Entryinfo

Created: 08/11/2014 23:43
Updated: 08/23/2025 15:53
Changes: 08/11/2014 23:43 (66), 05/29/2019 16:14 (10), 08/23/2025 15:53 (20)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:5EF:103

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