# What is CVE-2004-1491? > CVE-2004-1491 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) in Opera Browser, published on 31 December 2004. It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts its chance of use in the next 30 days at 13%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix. Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2004-1491 ## At a glance - **Verdict:** Fix this soon. Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month. - **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 26 out of 100 (Low); action: Monitor. Kept up to date as the evidence changes. - **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 5.0 out of 10) - **Known to be exploited:** No, not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today - **Chance of use in the next 30 days:** 13% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast) - **Published:** 31 December 2004 - **Record last updated:** 16 June 2026 - **Main product:** Opera Browser - **Affected products:** 4 ## What is CVE-2004-1491? In plain terms It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in. If it works, the attacker can change some data. ### The official description Opera 7.54 and earlier uses kfmclient exec to handle unknown MIME types, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a shortcut or launcher that contains an Exec entry. ### What kind of flaw is it? - Unknown: Unknown ### How an attack on it works - Where an attacker can be: Anywhere on the internet - How hard it is to pull off: Easy: no special conditions - Login needed first: No login needed - What an attacker gets: Can change some data Severity vector: `AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N` ## Is CVE-2004-1491 being exploited? Not that we know of It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 13%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 13%, 13%, 13%, 13%, 13%, 13%, 13%. ### Timeline - 31 December 2004: Published - 16 June 2026: Exploit likelihood fell - 16 June 2026: Record last updated ### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it CVE-2004-1491 scores **26 out of 100 (Low)**, with the action "Monitor". Every published flaw gets a risk score from 0 to 100, kept up to date as the evidence changes. Four things go into the score, from the one that counts most to the ones that count less: - Evidence it is being exploited: biggest factor - How severe it is: strong factor - How widely exposed it is: smaller factor - Threat activity around it: smaller factor 85 and above is Critical. Anything confirmed as exploited is always marked for an emergency patch, whatever its score. When this flaw matches software you track, it lands in your list with its score and the reasons behind it. ## Who is affected by CVE-2004-1491? The published record lists 4 products. - [Opera Browser](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/opera/opera_browser) by [Opera](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/opera) (Application): up to 7.54 - [Suse Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/suse/suse_linux) by [Suse](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/suse) (Operating system): 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.4.1, 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 6.0, 6.1-alpha, 6.1, 6.2, 6.3-alpha, 6.3, 6.4-alpha, 6.4, 7.0-alpha, 7.0, 7.1-alpha, 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 8.0, 8.1, 8.2, 9.0, 9.1, 9.2 - [Kde](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/kde/kde) by [Kde](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/kde) (Operating system): 3.2.3 - [Linux](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/gentoo/linux) by [Gentoo](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/gentoo) (Operating system): all versions ## How do I fix CVE-2004-1491? 1. **Check whether you run it.** Compare your versions with the affected products above. Not sure what you run? Precursor Intelligence can work it out from your public website, or you can pick it from a list. 2. **Apply the vendor’s fix.** Install the update named in the vendor’s advisory. We’ve put the advisories and patch notes first in the list. 3. **If you can’t patch today.** Follow any mitigation the vendor publishes, and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet until the update is in. 4. **Keep an eye on it.** Track the product and we tell you as soon as we spot this flaw on the list of exploited flaws, or a jump in its exploit likelihood. ### References - [secunia.com](http://secunia.com/advisories/13447/) (Broken link, Patch) - [gentoo.org](http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200502-17.xml) (Patch, Third-party advisory, Vendor advisory) - [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/11901) (Broken link, Patch, Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database) - [lists.suse.com](http://lists.suse.com/archive/suse-security-announce/2005-Mar/0007.html) (Third-party advisory, Vendor advisory) - [zone-h.org](http://www.zone-h.org/advisories/read/id=6503) (Third-party advisory, Vendor advisory) - [opera.com](http://www.opera.com/linux/changelogs/754u2/) (Broken link) - [exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/18457) (Third-party advisory, Vulnerability database) ## Questions ### What is CVE-2004-1491? CVE-2004-1491 is a medium-severity flaw in Opera Browser, published on 31 December 2004. It can be attacked from anywhere on the internet without logging in. If it works, the attacker can change some data. ### How serious is CVE-2004-1491? It scores 5.0 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2004-1491 is 26 out of 100, which is Low. Its action is "Monitor". Not confirmed as exploited yet, but serious or likely enough that it should not wait for a quiet month. ### Is CVE-2004-1491 being exploited? It is not on the list of flaws known to be exploited today. The latest forecast puts the chance of it being used in the next 30 days at 13%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching. ### Which versions does CVE-2004-1491 affect? For Opera Browser: up to 7.54. The record lists 4 products in all, each with its versions, under "Who is affected" on this page. ### How do I fix CVE-2004-1491? Install the update the vendor names in its advisory, linked first under "How do I fix" on this page. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet. ## Does CVE-2004-1491 affect you? Precursor Intelligence keeps checking for you: - **Tell us what you run.** Pick your software from a list, or let us work it out from your website. - **We match it to every flaw.** Over 400,000 published flaws, checked against your list. - **Ranked by real-world risk.** Every flaw gets a 0 to 100 risk score, kept up to date, led by evidence criminals are using it. - **Told as soon as we know.** An alert by email, in the app or by webhook to your own tools. Start free (no card, nothing to install): https://www.precursorintelligence.com/register Book a demo: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/contact