Description
Buffer overflow in the lprm command in the lprold lpr package on SuSE 7.1 through 7.3, OpenBSD 3.2 and earlier, and possibly other operating systems, allows local users to gain root privileges via long command line arguments such as (1) request ID or (2) user name.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗Public exploits
Exploit or proof-of-concept code for this vulnerability is publicly available, which lowers the bar for attackers. Treat it as a reason to patch sooner.
Third-party code, not reviewed by us. Public PoCs are sometimes fake or contain malware. Read the code first and run it only in an isolated lab, against systems you are authorised to test.
Exploit-DB 2
- BSD 'lpr' 2000.05.07/0.48/0.72 / lpr-ppd 0.72 - Local Buffer Overflow (1) EDB-22331 · local · Apr 22, 1998 · verified
- BSD 'lpr' 2000.05.07/0.48/0.72 / lpr-ppd 0.72 - Local Buffer Overflow (2) EDB-22332 · local · Apr 22, 1998 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DSA-267 lpr - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DSA-275 lpr-ppd - buffer overflow Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
References
- DSA-275 vendor-advisory
- 7025 vdb-entry
- MDKSA-2003:059 vendor-advisory
- 8293 third-party-advisory
- SuSE-SA:2003:0014 vendor-advisory
- DSA-267 vendor-advisory
- 20030305 potential buffer overflow in lprm (fwd) mailing-list
- 20030308 OpenBSD lprm(1) exploit mailing-list
- lprm-bo(11473) vdb-entry