Buffer overflow in apply.cgi in Linksys WRT54G 3.01.03, 3.03.6, and possibly other versions before 4.20.7, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long HTTP POST request.
CVE-2005-2799
Score elevated to 9.0 because EPSS predicts 87% probability of exploitation within the next 30 days (top 0.6% of all CVEs). Confidence: see factors.
- High exploitation likelihood — EPSS 71%
No vendor fix yet — apply a workaround or compensating control (WAF / firewall / segmentation) and watch for a patch.
- CVSS v3
- —
- EG Score
- 9.0(low)
- EPSS
- 99.3%
- KEV
- Not listed
Published
September 15, 2005
Last Modified
April 16, 2026
References (2)
- cve@mitrehttp://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=305&type=vulnerabilities
- af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108http://www.idefense.com/application/poi/display?id=305&type=vulnerabilities
Data Freshness Timeline
(refreshed 5× in last 7d / 22× in last 30d)
Each row is a source pipeline that fetched or updated this CVE on that date, with what changed. For example, "NVD update" means NVD published or revised its analysis for this CVE; "MITRE cvelistV5" means we ingested or refreshed it from the CNA feed. Most recent first.
- 2026-07-13 06:07 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-13 06:07 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-11 08:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-11 08:22 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-08 15:09 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-02 14:00 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-07-01 15:01 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-29 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-29 14:02 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-27 03:04 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-25 13:46 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-24 14:01 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-23 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-18 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-17 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-16 17:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-15 17:44 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-14 23:13 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-14 23:13 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-13 22:56 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-12 23:08 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-11 13:55 UTCEPSS rescore
Show 22 moreShow fewer
- 2026-06-10 22:14 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-10 13:17 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 22:43 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-05 22:43 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-04 13:09 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-04 13:09 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-02 20:10 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-06-01 13:49 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 22:28 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-31 12:11 UTCEG score recompute
- 2026-05-31 12:11 UTCGHSA enrichment
- 2026-05-29 13:40 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-29 13:40 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-28 13:42 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-27 13:37 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-26 07:16 UTCEPSS rescore
- 2026-05-18 21:29 UTCEPSS rescore
Publicly available exploits
(4 references)Working exploit code is in the public domain (2 Metasploit modules) (2 Exploit-DB entries). Defenders should treat patch urgency accordingly — public PoCs typically lead to mass-exploitation within 24-72 hours.
- Metasploitexploit/linux/http/linksys_wrt54gl_apply_exec✓ verifiedFirst seen Jan 18, 2013
Linksys WRT54GL apply.cgi Command Execution
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-16854✓ verifiedFirst seen Sep 24, 2010
Linksys WRT54 Access Point - 'apply.cgi' Remote Buffer Overflow (Metasploit)
Open source ↗ - Exploit-DBEDB-10028✓ verifiedFirst seen Sep 13, 2005
Linksys WRT54G < 4.20.7 / WRT54GS < 1.05.2 - 'apply.cgi' Remote Buffer Overflow (Metasploit)
Open source ↗ - Metasploitexploit/linux/http/linksys_apply_cgi✓ verifiedFirst seen Sep 13, 2005
Linksys WRT54 Access Point apply.cgi Buffer Overflow
Open source ↗
Frequently asked(4)
What is CVE-2005-2799?
When was CVE-2005-2799 disclosed?
Is CVE-2005-2799 actively exploited?
How do I remediate CVE-2005-2799?
Dependency Blast Radius
Explore the affected products and dependency analysis for CVE-2005-2799
Is Your Infrastructure Affected by CVE-2005-2799?
EchelonGraph automatically scans your cloud infrastructure and maps CVE exposure using blast radius analysis.