How severe is CVE-2008-3893?

CVE-2008-3893 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.

Is CVE-2008-3893 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (71st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-3893?

CVE-2008-3893 primarily affects Microsoft Windows Vista. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-3893?

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

When was CVE-2008-3893 published?

CVE-2008-3893 was published on 2008-09-03 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-3893

CVE-2008-3893 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows Vista with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. 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-200.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 1.9
EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (71st percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-200
Affected product: Microsoft Windows Vista
Published: 2008-09-03
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Microsoft Bitlocker in Windows Vista before SP1 stores pre-boot authentication passwords in the BIOS Keyboard buffer and does not clear this buffer during boot, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the physical memory locations associated with this buffer.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3893?: Microsoft Bitlocker in Windows Vista before SP1 stores pre-boot authentication passwords in the BIOS Keyboard buffer and does not clear this buffer during boot, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the physical memory locations associated with this buffer.
How severe is CVE-2008-3893?: CVE-2008-3893 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity none, and availability none.
Is CVE-2008-3893 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (71st percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-3893?: CVE-2008-3893 primarily affects Microsoft Windows Vista. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-3893?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2008-3893 published?: CVE-2008-3893 was published on 2008-09-03 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:*:*:enterprise:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:*:*:ultimate:*:*:*:*:*

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