CVE-2008-4555

CVE-2008-4555 is a high-severity vulnerability in Graphviz with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 8.5. 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-119.

Key facts

• Severity: High (CVSS 2.0 base score 8.5)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 5% (91st percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Graphviz
• Published: 2008-10-14
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the push_subg function in parser.y (lib/graph/parser.c) in Graphviz 2.20.2, and possibly earlier versions, allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a DOT file with a large number of Agraph_t elements.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-4555?

Stack-based buffer overflow in the push_subg function in parser.y (lib/graph/parser.c) in Graphviz 2.20.2, and possibly earlier versions, allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or execute arbitrary code via a DOT file with a large number of Agraph_t elements.

How severe is CVE-2008-4555?

CVE-2008-4555 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 8.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2008-4555 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-2008-4555?

CVE-2008-4555 primarily affects Graphviz. In total, 40 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-4555?

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-2008-4555 published?

CVE-2008-4555 was published on 2008-10-14 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://bugs.gentoo.org/show_bug.cgi?id=240636
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-10/msg00012.html
• http://roeehay.blogspot.com/2008/10/graphviz-buffer-overflow-code-execution.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32186
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32656
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200811-04.xml
• http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4409
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497150/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31648
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45765

Affected products (40)

• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5_0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5_0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.5_0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.7.16.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.8.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.8.5.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.8.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.10_2003-09-15_0415_1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.10_2003-09-15_0415_2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.12.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.12.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.12.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:1.16.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.2.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.2.1.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.2.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.20.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:graphviz:graphviz:2.20.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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Other CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities

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• CVE-2022-27625 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
• CVE-2022-27624 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): A vulnerability regarding improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer is found in the…
• CVE-2020-11896 — Critical (CVSS 10.0): The Treck TCP/IP stack before 6.0.1.66 allows Remote Code Execution, related to IPv4 tunneling.

Browse all CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer) vulnerabilities →