ed: Heap-based buffer overflow (arb. code execution)
Published Sep 4, 2008
9.3
HIGHCVSS 2.0
EPSS 3.60%
Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in the strip_escapes function in signal.c in GNU ed before 1.0 allows context-dependent or user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long filename. NOTE: since ed itself does not typically run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when ed is invoked as a third-party component.
Affected products
No data.
No data.
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1
ed-0:0.2-21.1
Fixed · RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3
ed-0:0.2-33.30E.1
Fixed · RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4
ed-0:0.2-36.el4_7.1
Fixed · RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
ed-0:0.2-39.el5_2
Fixed · RHSA-2008:0946
| Product | Package | State | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1 | ed-0:0.2-21.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2008:0946 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 | ed-0:0.2-33.30E.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2008:0946 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 | ed-0:0.2-36.el4_7.1 | Fixed | RHSA-2008:0946 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | ed-0:0.2-39.el5_2 | Fixed | RHSA-2008:0946 |
No package ranges for this CVE.
Remediation
No remediation recorded yet.
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:M/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 3, 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 (12 key points)
Flat stretches are collapsed; showing up to 120 newest points.
| Date | Score | Percentile | Model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 3, 2026 | 3.60% (0.03595) | 89.09th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Jun 15, 2026 | 3.60% (0.03595) | 87.92th | v5 (v2026.06.15) |
| Dec 1, 2025 | 4.67% (0.04670) | 88.96th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 30, 2025 | 2.34% (0.02338) | 83.41th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 29, 2025 | 4.78% (0.04779) | 82.05th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Mar 17, 2025 | 2.30% (0.02296) | 83.58th | v4 (v2025.03.14) |
| Dec 12, 2024 | 0.46% (0.00457) | 76.09th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Feb 8, 2024 | 0.46% (0.00457) | 74.54th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 7, 2023 | 0.46% (0.00457) | 71.38th | v3 (v2023.03.01) |
| Mar 6, 2023 | 2.77% (0.02768) | 82.99th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Apr 1, 2022 | 2.77% (0.02768) | 81.30th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
| Feb 4, 2022 | 2.77% (0.02768) | 63.79th | v2 (v2022.01.01) |
References (28)
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ed/2008-08/msg00000.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00006.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSE
- http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2010/000082.html mailing-listx_refsource_MLIST
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32349 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIA
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32460 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIA
- http://secunia.com/advisories/33005 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIA
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38794 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIA
- http://secunia.com/advisories/43068 third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIA
- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200809-15.xml vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOO
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-461.htm x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:200 vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MANDRIVA
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0946.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHAT
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501298/100/0/threaded mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQ
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30815 vdb-entryx_refsource_BID
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020734 vdb-entryx_refsource_SECTRACK
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0003.html x_refsource_CONFIRM
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2642 vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPEN
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3347 vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPEN
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0528 vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPEN
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0212 vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPEN
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2008-3916 Vendor Advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=462584 Issue Tracking
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44643 vdb-entryx_refsource_XF
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3916
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10678 vdb-entrysignaturex_refsource_OVAL
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3916
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00847.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORA
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00873.html vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORA
Change history (0)
No recorded changes yet.