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…

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.

Scores

EPSS (exploitation in 30 days)

8.4% · top 5.0% of all CVEs (3 Nov 2026)

The list uses the assigner's score when there is one, then CISA's, then NVD's: High 7.6.

Weakness

• n/a
• CWE-119 (opens in a new tab)All about CWE-119 and its CVEs

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)
• OSV.dev (opens in a new tab)
• GitHub Advisories (opens in a new tab)
• CIRCL Vulnerability-Lookup (opens in a new tab)

Badge for a README or a ticket

[![CVE-2008-3863](https://trackcve.app/badge/CVE-2008-3863.svg)](https://trackcve.app/cve/CVE-2008-3863)

Record last updated 7 Aug 2024, 09:53 UTC.