How severe is CVE-2015-8388?

CVE-2015-8388 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.

Is CVE-2015-8388 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2015-8388?

CVE-2015-8388 primarily affects Pcre Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.

How do I fix CVE-2015-8388?

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-2015-8388 published?

CVE-2015-8388 was published on 2015-12-02 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2015-8388

CVE-2015-8388 is a high-severity vulnerability in Pcre Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library with a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5. 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 7.5)
EPSS exploit prediction: 7% (93rd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-119
Affected product: Pcre Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library
Published: 2015-12-02
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

PCRE before 8.38 mishandles the /(?=di(?<=(?1))|(?=(.))))/ pattern and related patterns with an unmatched closing parenthesis, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted regular expression, as demonstrated by a JavaScript RegExp object encountered by Konqueror.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2015-8388?: PCRE before 8.38 mishandles the /(?=di(?<=(?1))|(?=(.))))/ pattern and related patterns with an unmatched closing parenthesis, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer overflow) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted regular expression, as demonstrated by a JavaScript RegExp object encountered by Konqueror.
How severe is CVE-2015-8388?: CVE-2015-8388 has a CVSS 2.0 base score of 7.5, rated high severity.
Is CVE-2015-8388 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 7% (93rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2015-8388?: CVE-2015-8388 primarily affects Pcre Perl Compatible Regular Expression Library. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2015-8388?: 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-2015-8388 published?: CVE-2015-8388 was published on 2015-12-02 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (2)

cpe:2.3:o:oracle:linux:7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:pcre:perl_compatible_regular_expression_library:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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