CVE-2007-5894: The reply function in ftpd.c in the gssftp ftpd in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) does not initialize the length variable when auth_type has a certain value, w...

Description

The reply function in ftpd.c in the gssftp ftpd in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) does not initialize the length variable when auth_type has a certain value, which has unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors. NOTE: the original disclosure misidentifies the conditions under which the uninitialized variable is used. NOTE: the vendor disputes this issue, stating " The 'length' variable is only uninitialized if 'auth_type' is neither the 'KERBEROS_V4' nor 'GSSAPI'; this condition cannot occur in the unmodified source code.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

2.69%

83.9th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions
Mit	Kerberos 5	All versions

References

Timeline

Published: Dec 6, 2007
Last Modified: Jun 16, 2026
Status: Modified

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2007-5894?

The reply function in ftpd.c in the gssftp ftpd in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) does not initialize the length variable when auth_type has a certain value, which has unknown impact and remote authenticated attack vectors. NOTE: the original disclosure misidentifies the conditions under which the uninitialized variable is used. NOTE: the vendor disputes this issue, stating " The 'length' variable is only uninitialized if 'auth_type' is neither the 'KERBEROS_V4' nor 'GSSAPI'; this condition cannot occur in the unmodified source code.

How severe is CVE-2007-5894?

Severity scoring for CVE-2007-5894 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 2.69% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2007-5894?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.