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CVE-2008-3863
Stack-based buffer overflow in the read_special_escape function in src/psgen.c in GNU Enscript 1.6.1 and 1.6.4 beta, when the -e (aka…
- 7.6HighCVSS base score
- 8.4%Exploitation in 30 daysEPSS · top 5.0% of all CVEs
- NoKnown exploitednot in CISA's KEV catalog
- NonePublic exploitsnone known yet
Description
Stack-based buffer overflow in the read_special_escape function in src/psgen.c in GNU Enscript 1.6.1 and 1.6.4 beta, when the -e (aka special escapes processing) option is enabled, allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted ASCII file, related to the setfilename command.
Timeline
ID reserved
By flexera
- 55 days later
· 55 days later
Published
- 16 years later
· 16 years later
Record updated
Changes after publication (a new score, a public exploit, EPSS crossing 1, 10 or 50 %, leaving KEV) are kept since November 2026; earlier ones are not known.
Scores
| Scored by | CVSS | Score | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVDNVD · Modified | 2.0 | High7.6 | AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
- EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)
- 8.4% · top 5.0% of all CVEs (9 Nov 2026)
Loading the EPSS history…
The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 7.6.
Affected products
n/a
- affected n/a
References
32
- ADV-2008-2891 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPENx_transferred
- 32137 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- gnuenscript-readspecialescape-bo(46026) (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_XFx_transferred
- 31858 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_BIDx_transferred
- 32521 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_CONFIRMx_transferred
- SUSE-SR:2008:024 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_SUSEx_transferred
- FEDORA-2008-9372 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAx_transferred
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9939 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entrysignaturex_refsource_OVALx_transferred
- FEDORA-2008-9351 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_FEDORAx_transferred
- RHSA-2008:1016 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATx_transferred
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-504.htm (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_CONFIRMx_transferred
- USN-660-1 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_UBUNTUx_transferred
- 35074 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0321 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_CONFIRMx_transferred
- 4488 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SREASONx_transferred
- APPLE-SA-2009-05-12 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_APPLEx_transferred
- GLSA-200812-02 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_GENTOOx_transferred
- 20081022 Secunia Research: GNU Enscript "setfilename" Special Escape Buffer Overflow (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQx_transferred
- 20081117 rPSA-2008-0321-1 enscript (opens in a new tab)mailing-listx_refsource_BUGTRAQx_transferred
- https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2887 (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_CONFIRMx_transferred
- 32854 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- MDVSA-2008:243 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_MANDRIVAx_transferred
- 32970 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- 32530 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- DSA-1670 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_DEBIANx_transferred
- TA09-133A (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_CERTx_transferred
- ADV-2009-1297 (opens in a new tab)vdb-entryx_refsource_VUPENx_transferred
- http://secunia.com/secunia_research/2008-41/ (opens in a new tab)x_refsource_MISCx_transferred
- 32753 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- 33109 (opens in a new tab)third-party-advisoryx_refsource_SECUNIAx_transferred
- RHSA-2008:1021 (opens in a new tab)vendor-advisoryx_refsource_REDHATx_transferred
Sources
The same CVE in the primary databases and aggregators, to check against.
- CVE.org record (opens in a new tab)
- CVE List JSON (GitHub) (opens in a new tab)
- NVD (opens in a new tab)
- FIRST EPSS (opens in a new tab)
- EUVD EUVD-2008-3849 (opens in a new tab)
- OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
- GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
- CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)
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[](https://cveledger.app/cve/CVE-2008-3863)Record last updated .