CVE-2004-0975: The der_chop script in the openssl package in Trustix Secure Linux 1.5 through 2.1 and other operating syst...

Security readout for executives and security teams

This is an old local file-overwrite flaw in a helper script shipped with some OpenSSL packages. A person who already has local access could abuse unsafe temporary-file handling to overwrite files through symbolic links. Business urgency is mainly for legacy Linux systems or archived images still running vulnerable packages. Exposure is most likely on legacy Linux systems using vulnerable OpenSSL packages from the affected distribution era. Internet-facing services alone are not enough; the described attack requires local user access and the vulnerable script/package being present. Treat this as a legacy hygiene issue unless affected systems still host untrusted local users or critical workloads. Prioritize asset discovery, patch verification, and retirement of obsolete distributions over emergency response. Mitigation focus: Identify systems running legacy OpenSSL packages from affected Linux distributions.; Apply vendor security updates where available from the relevant distribution advisory.; Remove or restrict vulnerable legacy systems that cannot be patched..

Prepared

Jun 30, 2026, 02:24 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.