---
title: "CVE-2007-5894\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2007-5894?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2007-5894

Publication date 6 December 2007

Last updated 4 August 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Negligible**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

Toggle side navigation

## 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.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2007-5894?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| krb5 | 9.10 karmic | Not affected |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not affected |
| 8.10 intrepid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Ignored |
| 7.10 gutsy | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 7.04 feisty | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 6.10 edgy | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2007-5894?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [kees](https://launchpad.net/~kees)

upstream does not feel this is a security issue

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| krb5 | * Upstream:   <http://src.mit.edu/fisheye/browse/krb5/trunk/src/appl/gssftp/ftpd/ftpd.c?r1=19653&r2=20182> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2007-5894)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2007-5894)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2007-5894)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2007-5894)

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2007-5894>