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Vulnerability record · CVE-2008-1544 · published 28 March 2008

CVE-2008-1544: Microsoft internet explorer improper input validation vulnerability

Microsoft · Internet Explorer

The setRequestHeader method of the XMLHttpRequest object in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, and 7 does not block dangerous HTTP request headers when certain 8-bit character sequences are appended to a header name, which allows remote attackers to (1) conduct HTTP request splitting and HTTP request smuggling attacks via an incorrect Content-Length header, (2) access arbitrary virtual hosts via a modified Host header, (3) bypass referrer restrictions via an incorrect Referer header, and (4) bypass the same-origin policy and obtain sensitive information via a crafted request header.

7.1 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 26% · top 2.1% CWE-20 · Improper input validation
7.1CVSS 2.0 base score
26%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
24References
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

The setRequestHeader method of the XMLHttpRequest object in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, and 7 does not block dangerous HTTP request headers when certain 8-bit character sequences are appended to a header name, which allows remote attackers to (1) conduct HTTP request splitting and HTTP request smuggling attacks via an incorrect Content-Length header, (2) access arbitrary virtual hosts via a modified Host header, (3) bypass referrer restrictions via an incorrect Referer header, and (4) bypass the same-origin policy and obtain sensitive information via a crafted request header.

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:N/A:N

Affected products

1 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

LinkTags
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=121380194923597&w=2
http://secunia.com/advisories/29453 Vendor Advisory
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/3785
http://www.mindedsecurity.com/MSA02240108.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/489954/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/28379 Patch
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020226
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-162B.html US Government Resource
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/0980 Vendor Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1778 Vendor Advisory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-031
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5291
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=121380194923597&w=2
http://secunia.com/advisories/29453 Vendor Advisory
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/3785
http://www.mindedsecurity.com/MSA02240108.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/489954/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/28379 Patch
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020226
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-162B.html US Government Resource
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/0980 Vendor Advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1778 Vendor Advisory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-031
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5291

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Same products first, then exploited flaws of the same weakness class.

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2008-1544), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.