yelp: Invalid URI format string vulnerability (remote arbitrary code execution)
Published Aug 18, 2008
10.0
HIGHCVSS 2.0
EPSS 19.39%
Description
Format string vulnerability in the window_error function in yelp-window.c in yelp in Gnome after 2.19.90 and before 2.24 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in an invalid URI on the command line, as demonstrated by use of yelp within (1) man or (2) ghelp URI handlers in Firefox, Evolution, and unspecified other programs.
Affected products
Remediation
Red Hat statement
This issue does not affect the versions of the yelp package, as shipped with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3, 4 and 5.
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.1 score for this CVE.
No CVSS v3.0 score for this CVE.
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
No CISA SSVC assessment for this CVE yet.
Estimated probability of exploitation in the wild in the next 30 days (FIRST EPSS). As of Oct 2, 2026.
Score over time
2022–2026- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Percentile over time
- EPSS v2
- EPSS v3
- EPSS v4
- EPSS v5
Table of values (10 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2, 2026 | 19.39% (0.19395) | 97.28th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 19.39% (0.19395) | 97.00th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 12.74% (0.12739) | 93.38th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 14.47% (0.14472) | 90.75th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 12.74% (0.12739) | 93.44th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 17, 2024 | 2.60% (0.02595) | 89.98th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 7.10% (0.07101) | 94.26th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 7.83% (0.07832) | 93.16th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 42.88% (0.42881) | 98.32th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 42.88% (0.42881) | 97.64th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (18)
- http://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=115890 x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitIssue Tracking
- http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=546364 x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitIssue TrackingPatch
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00000.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEMailing ListThird Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31465 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAVendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31620 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAVendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31834 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAVendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32629 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAVendor Advisory
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:175 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MANDRIVAProduct
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30690 vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDThird Party AdvisoryVDB Entry
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-638-1 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUThird Party Advisory
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2393 vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPENBroken Link
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2008-3533 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/yelp/+bug/254860 x_refsource_CONFIRMExploitPatch
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=459487 Issue Tracking
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44449 vdb-entryx_refsource_XFVDB Entry
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3533
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3533
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-September/msg00222.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAMailing ListThird Party Advisory
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.