How severe is CVE-2008-5529?

CVE-2008-5529 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.

Is CVE-2008-5529 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (84th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2008-5529?

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-2008-5529 published?

CVE-2008-5529 was published on 2008-12-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-5529

CVE-2008-5529 is a critical-severity vulnerability 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-20.

Key facts

Severity: Critical (CVSS 2.0 base score 9.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 3% (84th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-20
Published: 2008-12-12
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

CA eTrust Antivirus 31.6.6086, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ header (aka "EXE info") at the beginning, and modifying the filename to have (1) no extension, (2) a .txt extension, or (3) a .jpg extension, as demonstrated by a document containing a CVE-2006-5745 exploit.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5529?: CA eTrust Antivirus 31.6.6086, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ header (aka "EXE info") at the beginning, and modifying the filename to have (1) no extension, (2) a .txt extension, or (3) a .jpg extension, as demonstrated by a document containing a CVE-2006-5745 exploit.
How severe is CVE-2008-5529?: CVE-2008-5529 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 9.3, rated critical severity.
Is CVE-2008-5529 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 3% (84th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
How do I fix CVE-2008-5529?: 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-2008-5529 published?: CVE-2008-5529 was published on 2008-12-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

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