How severe is CVE-2008-5551?

CVE-2008-5551 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3, rated medium severity.

Is CVE-2008-5551 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 14% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2008-5551?

CVE-2008-5551 affects Microsoft Internet Explorer. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2008-5551?

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

When was CVE-2008-5551 published?

CVE-2008-5551 was published on 2008-12-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

CVE-2008-5551

CVE-2008-5551 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score of 14% places it in the 96th percentile, indicating an elevated likelihood of exploitation. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-79.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 2.0 base score 4.3)
EPSS exploit prediction: 14% (96th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-79
Affected product: Microsoft Internet Explorer
Published: 2008-12-12
Last modified: 2026-06-16

Description

The XSS Filter in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 Beta 2 allows remote attackers to bypass the XSS protection mechanism and conduct XSS attacks by injecting data at two different positions within an HTML document, related to STYLE elements and the CSS expression property, aka a "double injection."

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5551?: The XSS Filter in Microsoft Internet Explorer 8.0 Beta 2 allows remote attackers to bypass the XSS protection mechanism and conduct XSS attacks by injecting data at two different positions within an HTML document, related to STYLE elements and the CSS expression property, aka a "double injection."
How severe is CVE-2008-5551?: CVE-2008-5551 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 4.3, rated medium severity.
Is CVE-2008-5551 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 14% (96th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2008-5551?: CVE-2008-5551 affects Microsoft Internet Explorer. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2008-5551?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2008-5551 published?: CVE-2008-5551 was published on 2008-12-12 and last updated on 2026-06-16.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:internet_explorer:8:beta2:*:*:*:*:*:*

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