Description
Buffer overflow in the Samba Web Administration Tool (SWAT) in Samba 3.0.2 to 3.0.4 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an invalid base-64 character during HTTP basic authentication.
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 ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | samba | 3.0.5 | — |
| Debian 13 | samba | 3.0.5 | — |
| Debian 12 | samba | 3.0.5 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 3 | samba +3 | 3.0.4-6.3E | RHSA-2004:259 |
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 1
- Samba 3.0.4 - SWAT Authorisation Buffer Overflow EDB-364 · remote · Jul 22, 2004 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 1
- RHSA-2004:259 Red Hat Security Advisory: samba security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
References
- 2004-0039 vendor-advisory
- samba-swat-base64-bo(16785) vdb-entry
- CLA-2004:851 vendor-advisory
- RHSA-2004:259 vendor-advisory
- 20040722 TSSA-2004-014 - samba mailing-list
- CLA-2004:854 vendor-advisory
- 20040722 [OpenPKG-SA-2004.033] OpenPKG Security Advisory (samba) mailing-list
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11445 vdb-entry signature
- SUSE-SA:2004:022 vendor-advisory
- 20040722 Security Release - Samba 3.0.5 and 2.2.10 mailing-list
- 20040722 SWAT PreAuthorization PoC mailing-list
- MDKSA-2004:071 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-200407-21 vendor-advisory
- 20040722 Samba 3.x swat preauthentication buffer overflow mailing-list