CVE-2008-3896

CVE-2008-3896 is a low-severity vulnerability in Gnu Grub Legacy with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.1. 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

Description

Grub Legacy 0.97 and earlier stores pre-boot authentication passwords in the BIOS Keyboard buffer and does not clear this buffer before and after use, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the physical memory locations associated with this buffer.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3896?
Grub Legacy 0.97 and earlier stores pre-boot authentication passwords in the BIOS Keyboard buffer and does not clear this buffer before and after use, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the physical memory locations associated with this buffer.
How severe is CVE-2008-3896?
CVE-2008-3896 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 2.1, rated low severity.
Is CVE-2008-3896 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (25th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-3896?
CVE-2008-3896 primarily affects Gnu Grub Legacy. In total, 10 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-3896?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2008-3896 published?
CVE-2008-3896 was published on 2008-09-03 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (10)

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