CVE-2008-0553

CVE-2008-0553 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Tcl Tk with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-119.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.8)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (90th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Tcl Tk
• Published: 2008-02-07
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the ReadImage function in tkImgGIF.c in Tk (Tcl/Tk) before 8.5.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted GIF image, a similar issue to CVE-2006-4484.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-0553?

Stack-based buffer overflow in the ReadImage function in tkImgGIF.c in Tk (Tcl/Tk) before 8.5.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted GIF image, a similar issue to CVE-2006-4484.

How severe is CVE-2008-0553?

CVE-2008-0553 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-0553 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (90th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-0553?

CVE-2008-0553 primarily affects Tcl Tk. In total, 69 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-0553?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2008-0553 published?

CVE-2008-0553 was published on 2008-02-07 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-04/msg00005.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/28784
• http://secunia.com/advisories/28807
• http://secunia.com/advisories/28848
• http://secunia.com/advisories/28857
• http://secunia.com/advisories/28867
• http://secunia.com/advisories/28954
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29069
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29070
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29622
• http://secunia.com/advisories/30129
• http://secunia.com/advisories/30188
• http://secunia.com/advisories/30535
• http://secunia.com/advisories/30717
• http://secunia.com/advisories/30783
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32608
• http://securitytracker.com/id?1019309
• http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?release_id=573933&group_id=10894
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-237465-1
• http://ubuntu.com/usn/usn-664-1
• http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0054
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1490
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1491
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1598
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:041
• http://www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2008_13_sr.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0134.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0135.html
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0136.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/488069/100/0/threaded

Affected products (69)

• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:4.0p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.1p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:6.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.5p1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:7.6p2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.0p2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.2.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.3.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.3.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.3.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:tcl_tk:tcl_tk:8.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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• CVE-2007-5137 — Medium (CVSS 6.8): Buffer overflow in the ReadImage function in generic/tkImgGIF.c in Tcl (Tcl/Tk) 8.4.13 through 8.4.15 allows remote…

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