CVE-2008-3640

CVE-2008-3640 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Apple Cups 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-189.

Key facts

• Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 6.8)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-189
• Affected product: Apple Cups
• Published: 2008-10-14
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Integer overflow in the WriteProlog function in texttops in CUPS before 1.3.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PostScript file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3640?

Integer overflow in the WriteProlog function in texttops in CUPS before 1.3.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted PostScript file that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

How severe is CVE-2008-3640?

CVE-2008-3640 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 6.8, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-3640 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 5% (91st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-3640?

CVE-2008-3640 primarily affects Apple Cups. In total, 77 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-3640?

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

When was CVE-2008-3640 published?

CVE-2008-3640 was published on 2008-10-14 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://labs.idefense.com/intelligence/vulnerabilities/display.php?id=752
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-10/msg00006.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32084
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32226
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32284
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32292
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32316
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32331
• http://secunia.com/advisories/33085
• http://secunia.com/advisories/33111
• http://sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-26-261088-1
• http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-470.htm
• http://www.cups.org/articles.php?L575
• http://www.cups.org/str.php?L2919
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1656
• http://www.gentoo.org/security/en/glsa/glsa-200812-11.xml
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:211
• http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0937.html
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31690
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021034
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2782
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3401
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1568
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45790
• https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10266
• https://usn.ubuntu.com/656-1/
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00331.html
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00380.html

Affected products (77)

• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.5-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.5-2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6-2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.6-3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.9-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.10-1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:apple:cups:1.1.20:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*

More vulnerabilities in Apple Cups

• CVE-2008-5184 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The web interface (cgi-bin/admin.c) in CUPS before 1.3.8 uses the guest username when a user is not logged on to the…
• CVE-2008-3641 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Hewlett-Packard Graphics Language (HPGL) filter in CUPS before 1.3.9 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary…
• CVE-2008-0053 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): Multiple buffer overflows in the HP-GL/2-to-PostScript filter in CUPS before 1.3.6 might allow remote attackers to…
• CVE-2012-6094 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): cups (Common Unix Printing System) 'Listen localhost:631' option not honored correctly which could provide unauthorized…
• CVE-2010-2941 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): ipp.c in cupsd in CUPS 1.4.4 and earlier does not properly allocate memory for attribute values with invalid string…
• CVE-2004-2154 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): CUPS before 1.1.21rc1 treats a Location directive in cupsd.conf as case sensitive, which allows attackers to bypass…

All CVEs affecting Apple Cups →

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