CVE-2008-4250
What it is
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."
At a glance
- Exploitability
- Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
- In the wild
- CISA lists this as exploited in real attacks. Treat as urgent.
- Fix
- A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.
Timeline
- ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
- PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
- 2026-05-20 Exploited in the wildAdded to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list
- 2026-06-03 Remediation deadlineCISA's due date for federal agencies to fix it
- Last updatedMost recent change to the record
Why it ranks here
- Exploited in the wild: yes, CISA lists it. This puts it above everything that is not.
- Exploit odds: 98.8% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
- Severity: 9.8 CRITICAL (CVSS).
- Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.
- It meets the bar for Drop everything: critical, and exploited or very likely to be.
Details
- Published
- Last modified
- Added to CISA KEV
- 2026-05-20
- Exploit probability
- 98.8% · EPSS, next 30 days
- Weakness
- CWE-94 · Code injection
- Record status
- Analyzed
Affected
- Microsoft Windows 2000
- Microsoft Windows Server 2003
- Microsoft Windows Server 2008
- Microsoft Windows Vista
- Microsoft Windows Xp
Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 9.8
- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Raw vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Is it in your code?
Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.
Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2008-4250.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2008-4250. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.
Fix and advisories
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32326
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31874
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2902
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32326
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31874
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2902
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067
References
- http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/1150
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=122703006921213&w=2
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32326
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/827267
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497808/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497816/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31874
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021091
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-297A.html
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-088A.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2902
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46040
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6093
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6824
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6841
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7104
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7132
- http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/1150
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=122703006921213&w=2
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32326
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/827267
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497808/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497816/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31874