How severe is CVE-2008-2142?

CVE-2008-2142 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-2142 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (88th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-2142?

CVE-2008-2142 primarily affects Gnu Emacs. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-2142?

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

When was CVE-2008-2142 published?

CVE-2008-2142 was published on 2008-05-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-2142

CVE-2008-2142 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Gnu Emacs 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.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.8)
EPSS exploit prediction: 4% (88th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Affected product: Gnu Emacs
Published: 2008-05-12
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Emacs 21 and XEmacs automatically load and execute .flc (fast lock) files that are associated with other files that are edited within Emacs, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-2142?: Emacs 21 and XEmacs automatically load and execute .flc (fast lock) files that are associated with other files that are edited within Emacs, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code.
How severe is CVE-2008-2142?: CVE-2008-2142 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2008-2142 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 4% (88th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-2142?: CVE-2008-2142 primarily affects Gnu Emacs. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-2142?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2008-2142 published?: CVE-2008-2142 was published on 2008-05-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:a:gnu:emacs:21.3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:gnu:xemacs:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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