# What is CVE-2010-0285?

> CVE-2010-0285 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.6) in Screensaver from Gnome, published on 24 February 2010. 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 0.3%. If you run an affected version, plan in the vendor’s fix.

Canonical page: https://www.precursorintelligence.com/what-is/cve-2010-0285

## At a glance

- **Verdict:** Plan it in. No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.
- **Precursor Intelligence risk score:** 16 out of 100 (Info); action: Track. Kept up to date as the evidence changes.
- **Severity:** Medium (CVSS 5.6 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:** 0.3% (latest exploit-likelihood forecast)
- **Published:** 24 February 2010
- **Record last updated:** 16 June 2026
- **Main product:** Screensaver from Gnome
- **Affected products:** 1

## What is CVE-2010-0285? In plain terms

An attacker has to be already on the device without logging in. If it works, the attacker can read data and change data.

### The official description

gnome-screensaver 2.14.3, 2.22.2, 2.27.x, 2.28.0, and 2.28.3, when the X configuration enables the extend screen option, allows physically proximate attackers to bypass screen locking, access an unattended workstation, and view half of the GNOME desktop by attaching an external monitor.

### What kind of flaw is it?

- Unknown: Unknown

### How an attack on it works

- Where an attacker can be: Already on the device
- How hard it is to pull off: Hard: conditions must line up
- Login needed first: No login needed
- What an attacker gets: Can read data and change data

Severity vector: `AV:L/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:N`

## Is CVE-2010-0285 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 0.3%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

Exploit likelihood over the last 7 days: 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.3%, 0.3%.

### Timeline

- 24 February 2010: Published
- 16 June 2026: Record last updated

### How Precursor Intelligence ranks it

CVE-2010-0285 scores **16 out of 100 (Info)**, with the action "Track".

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: key context
- Real threat activity around it: key context

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-2010-0285?

The published record lists 1 product.

- [Screensaver](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/product/gnome/screensaver) by [Gnome](https://www.precursorintelligence.com/vendors/gnome) (Application): 2.14.3, 2.22.2, 2.27, 2.28.0, 2.28.3

## How do I fix CVE-2010-0285?

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 latest update from the vendor. The references list where the vendor has published details.
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

- [git.gnome.org](http://git.gnome.org/browse/gnome-screensaver/commit/?id=2f597ea9f1f363277fd4dfc109fa41bbc6225aca)
- [security-tracker.debian.org](http://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2010-0285)
- [mandriva.com](http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2011:093)
- [securityfocus.com](http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/38254)
- [bugzilla.gnome.org](https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=593616)
- [bugzilla.redhat.com](https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=557525)
- [exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com](https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/56366)

## Questions

### What is CVE-2010-0285?

CVE-2010-0285 is a medium-severity flaw in Screensaver from Gnome, published on 24 February 2010. An attacker has to be already on the device without logging in. If it works, the attacker can read data and change data.

### How serious is CVE-2010-0285?

It scores 5.6 out of 10 on the CVSS severity scale, which is medium. Our risk score for CVE-2010-0285 is 16 out of 100, which is Info. Its action is "Track". No sign of exploitation and a low forecast. Patch it in your normal update cycle.

### Is CVE-2010-0285 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 0.3%. That can change at any time, which is why we keep watching.

### Which versions does CVE-2010-0285 affect?

For Screensaver from Gnome: 2.14.3, 2.22.2, 2.27, 2.28.0, 2.28.3.

### How do I fix CVE-2010-0285?

Install the update the vendor names in its advisory. If you can't patch today, follow the vendor's mitigation and limit who can reach the affected system from the internet.

## Does CVE-2010-0285 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.

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