How severe is CVE-2008-1688?

CVE-2008-1688 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2008-1688 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-1688?

CVE-2008-1688 primarily affects Gnu M4. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-1688?

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

When was CVE-2008-1688 published?

CVE-2008-1688 was published on 2008-04-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-1688

CVE-2008-1688 is a high-severity vulnerability in Gnu M4 with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 7.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (86th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Gnu M4
Published: 2008-04-09
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Unspecified vulnerability in GNU m4 before 1.4.11 might allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code, related to improper handling of filenames specified with the -F option. NOTE: it is not clear when this issue crosses privilege boundaries.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-1688?: Unspecified vulnerability in GNU m4 before 1.4.11 might allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code, related to improper handling of filenames specified with the -F option. NOTE: it is not clear when this issue crosses privilege boundaries.
How severe is CVE-2008-1688?: CVE-2008-1688 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2008-1688 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (86th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-1688?: CVE-2008-1688 primarily affects Gnu M4. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-1688?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2008-1688 published?: CVE-2008-1688 was published on 2008-04-09 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (10)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:m4:1.4.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Gnu M4

CVE-2008-1687 — High (CVSS 7.5): The (1) maketemp and (2) mkstemp builtin functions in GNU m4 before 1.4.11 do not quote their output when a file is…

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