CVE-2008-5050

CVE-2008-5050 is a critical-severity vulnerability in Clam Anti-virus Clamav with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3. 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: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
• EPSS exploit prediction: 8% (94th percentile)
• Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
• Weakness: CWE-119
• Affected product: Clam Anti-virus Clamav
• Published: 2008-11-13
• Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

Off-by-one error in the get_unicode_name function (libclamav/vba_extract.c) in Clam Anti-Virus (ClamAV) before 0.94.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted VBA project file, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5050?

Off-by-one error in the get_unicode_name function (libclamav/vba_extract.c) in Clam Anti-Virus (ClamAV) before 0.94.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted VBA project file, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.

How severe is CVE-2008-5050?

CVE-2008-5050 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2008-5050 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 8% (94th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-5050?

CVE-2008-5050 primarily affects Clam Anti-virus Clamav. In total, 99 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-5050?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its critical severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2008-5050 published?

CVE-2008-5050 was published on 2008-11-13 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

• http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Feb/msg00000.html
• http://lists.grok.org.uk/pipermail/full-disclosure/2008-November/065530.html
• http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00002.html
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32663
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32699
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32765
• http://secunia.com/advisories/32872
• http://secunia.com/advisories/33016
• http://secunia.com/advisories/33317
• http://secunia.com/advisories/33937
• http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-21.xml
• http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4579
• http://sourceforge.net/project/shownotes.php?release_id=637952&group_id=86638
• http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3438
• http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1680
• http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:229
• http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498169/100/0/threaded
• http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32207
• http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021159
• http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-672-1
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3085
• http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0422
• https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46462
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-November/msg00332.html
• https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-November/msg00348.html

Affected products (99)

• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.05:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.06:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.14:pre:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.22:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.23:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.24:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.51:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.52:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.53:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.54:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.60:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.60p:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.65:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.67:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.68:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.68.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.70:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.71:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.72:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.73:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.74:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.75:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.75.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.80:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.80:rc:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.80:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
• cpe:2.3:a:clam_anti-virus:clamav:0.80:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*

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