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TI-2008-03755 Aliases CVE-2008-3916GHSA-j55v-8789-5phj

Heap-based buffer overflow in the strip_escapes function in signal.c in GNU ed before 1.0…

Priority MEDIUM 46CWE-119Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Network
Privileges required
None
User interaction
— Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
Attack complexity
Medium
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
Complete · Complete · Complete
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-119 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

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.

Why it matters now

EPSS 0.03595 89th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory

SSVC decision points

Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
——all versions—No fix listedCNA
  • — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 8

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.2VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.3VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.4VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.5VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.6VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.7VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.8VulnerableGNU
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*0.9VulnerableGNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.2 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.3 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.4 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.5 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.6 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.7 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.8 Vulnerable ·GNU
  • cpe:2.3:a:gnu:ed:0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.9 Vulnerable ·GNU

Remediation

Red Hat 1 advisory

  • RHSA-2008:0946 Released 2008-10-21 · Red Hat rating Moderate
    ed security update
    • Red Hat Desktop version 3 ed-0.2-33.30E.1, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) ed-0.2-39.el5_2, ed-0.2-39.el5_2.i386, ed-0.2-39.el5_2.ia64 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 ed-0.2-21.1, ed-0.2-21.1.i386, ed-0.2-21.1.ia64
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3 ed-0.2-33.30E.1, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.i386, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.ia64 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4 ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.i386, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.ia64 +1
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) ed-0.2-39.el5_2, ed-0.2-39.el5_2.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4 ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1 ed-0.2-21.1, ed-0.2-21.1.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3 ed-0.2-33.30E.1, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.i386, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.ia64
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4 ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.i386, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.ia64
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1 ed-0.2-21.1, ed-0.2-21.1.i386
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3 ed-0.2-33.30E.1, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.i386, ed-0.2-33.30E.1.ia64
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4 ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.i386, ed-0.2-36.el4_7.1.ia64
    • Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1 ed-0.2-21.1, ed-0.2-21.1.ia64

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat Desktop version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server)Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS (Advanced Server) version 2.1 Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client)Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 2.1Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux ES version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 2.1Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 3Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Enterprise Linux WS version 4Fixed RHSA-2008:0946
Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation 2.1Fixed RHSA-2008:0946

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2008-3916
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-j55v-8789-5phj

References

Advisory 6

Other 9

  • TI-2017-03392 regex.c in GNU ed before 1.14.1 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via… CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.5
  • TI-2006-06682 GNU ed before 0.3 allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 4.6
  • TI-2000-01125 GNU ed before 0.2-18.1 allows local users to overwrite the files of other users via a symlink attack. CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 4.6

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences