Summary
generated automatically from NVD dataOpenSSL 0.9.6e responds to detected buffer overflow conditions with assertions rather than a milder error-handling mechanism. A remote attacker can send crafted messages that trip a failed assertion and force OpenSSL to abort, causing a denial of service through a crash. This was demonstrated with SSLv2 CLIENT_MASTER_KEY messages, which s2_srvr.c does not handle properly. The CVSS v2.0 score is 5.0 (MEDIUM).
NVD description
OpenSSL 0.9.6e uses assertions when detecting buffer overflow attacks instead of less severe mechanisms, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via certain messages that cause OpenSSL to abort from a failed assertion, as demonstrated using SSLv2 CLIENT_MASTER_KEY messages, which are not properly handled in s2_srvr.c.
EPSS · FIRST.org
2.8%probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Higher than 86% of scored CVEs
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) estimates, from observed exploitation activity, how likely a CVE is to be exploited in the next 30 days. It complements CVSS, which measures severity, not likelihood. Score of 2026-11-02, recomputed daily by FIRST.org.
CVSS v2.0 Score
Information
- Published
- 17 nov. 2003
- Updated
- 16 juin 2026
- Status
- Modified
- Source
- cve@mitre.org
Affected products
Bounds published by NVD: "< 8.4.27" means 8.4.27 is no longer vulnerable. The fixed release to install is in the vendor advisory.
Weaknesses (CWE)
References (6)
- http://cvs.openssl.org/chngview?cn=7659PatchVendor Advisory
- http://cvs.openssl.org/chngview?cn=7659PatchVendor Advisory
Similar CVEs
Other vulnerabilities of type
Running OpenSSL? Know which CVEs hit your version.
Add the product and its version: cveo.tech lists the CVEs that affect it right away, then alerts you by email when a new one affects it — including before NVD has finished its analysis. Free, an account is all it takes.