CVE-2008-0948

CVE-2008-0948 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Mit Kerberos 5 with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. 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: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (94th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Mit Kerberos 5
• Published: 2008-03-19
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Buffer overflow in the RPC library (lib/rpc/rpc_dtablesize.c) used by libgssrpc and kadmind in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) 1.2.2, and probably other versions before 1.3, when running on systems whose unistd.h does not define the FD_SETSIZE macro, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code by triggering a large number of open file descriptors.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-0948?

Buffer overflow in the RPC library (lib/rpc/rpc_dtablesize.c) used by libgssrpc and kadmind in MIT Kerberos 5 (krb5) 1.2.2, and probably other versions before 1.3, when running on systems whose unistd.h does not define the FD_SETSIZE macro, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code by triggering a large number of open file descriptors.

How severe is CVE-2008-0948?

CVE-2008-0948 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2008-0948 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-0948?

CVE-2008-0948 affects Mit Kerberos 5. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-0948?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2008-0948 published?

CVE-2008-0948 was published on 2008-03-19 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-03/msg00006.html
• http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=130497213107107&w=2
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29423
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29424
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29428
• http://secunia.com/advisories/29663
• http://secunia.com/advisories/30535
• http://securityreason.com/securityalert/3752
• http://support.novell.com/docs/Readmes/InfoDocument/patchbuilder/readme_5022520.html
• http://support.novell.com/docs/Readmes/InfoDocument/patchbuilder/readme_5022542.html
• http://web.mit.edu/kerberos/advisories/MITKRB5-SA-2008-002.txt
• http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/374121
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0181.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/489762/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/489784/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/493080/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/28302
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1019631
• http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-079B.html
• http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2008-0009.html
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/0922/references
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1102/references
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1744
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/41274
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A9209

Affected products (1)

• cpe:2.3:a:mit:kerberos_5:1.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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