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Vulnerability record · CVE-2008-3863 · published 23 October 2008

CVE-2008-3863: Gnu enscript memory buffer overflow vulnerability

Gnu · Enscript

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.

7.6 CVSS 2.0 High EPSS 8.4% · top 5.2% CWE-119 · Memory buffer overflow
7.6CVSS 2.0 base score
8.4%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
1Affected product versions listed by NVD
64References
16 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

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.

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

Affected products

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

References

LinkTags
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00000.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2008-1021.html
http://secunia.com/advisories/32137 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32521
http://secunia.com/advisories/32530 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32753
http://secunia.com/advisories/32854
http://secunia.com/advisories/32970
http://secunia.com/advisories/33109
http://secunia.com/advisories/35074
http://secunia.com/secunia_research/2008-41/ Vendor Advisory
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-02.xml
http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4488
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-504.htm
http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0321
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1670
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:243
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-1016.html
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497647/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498385/100/0/threaded
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31858
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-660-1
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html US Government Resource
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2891
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46026
https://issues.rpath.com/browse/RPL-2887
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9939
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-November/msg00014.html
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-November/msg00040.html
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00000.html
http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2008-1021.html
http://secunia.com/advisories/32137 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32521
http://secunia.com/advisories/32530 Vendor Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/32753
http://secunia.com/advisories/32854

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Related vulnerabilities

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

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2008-3863), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-09-26). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.