Description
packets.c in Freeciv 2.0 before 2.0.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (server crash) via crafted packets with negative compressed size values.
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 | freeciv | 2.0.8-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | freeciv | 2.0.8-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | freeciv | 2.0.8-1 | — |
| Debian 3.1 | freeciv | 2.0.1-1sarge1 | DSA-994-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | freeciv | 2.6.5-1.2 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10765-1 |
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
- Freeciv 2.0.7 - Jumbo Malloc Crash (Denial of Service) EDB-1557 · dos · Mar 6, 2006 · verified
Sources: PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit Framework, Exploit-DB — updated daily. Only links are listed; no exploit code is hosted here.
Advisories 2
- DSA-994-1 freeciv - denial of service Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10765-1 freeciv-2.6.5-1.2 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- 16975 vdb-entry
- GLSA-200603-11 vendor-advisory
- MDKSA-2006:053 vendor-advisory
- 20060306 Out of memory crash in Freeciv 2.0.7 mailing-list
- 19253 third-party-advisory
- DSA-994 vendor-advisory
- 19227 third-party-advisory
- ADV-2006-0838 vdb-entry
- http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=355211
- 19120 third-party-advisory
- freeciv-packets-dos(25166) vdb-entry