Heap-based buffer overflow in PHP - CVE-2008-5557
Published: October 11, 2018 / Updated: June 8, 2025
Vulnerability identifier: #VU110332
CSH Severity: High
CVSS v4: []
CVE-ID: CVE-2008-5557
CWE-ID: CWE-122
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The vulnerability exists due to a boundary error in Heap-based buffer overflow in ext/mbstring/libmbfl/filters/mbfilter_htmlent.c in the mbstring extension in PHP 4.3.0 through 5.2.6. A remote attacker can use a crafted string containing an HTML entity to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.
Affected software
PHP
How to mitigate CVE-2008-5557
Install update from vendor's website.
PHP - update to 5.2.7
External References
- http://archives.neohapsis.com/archives/fulldisclosure/2008-12/0477.html
- http://bugs.php.net/bug.php?id=45722
- http://cvs.php.net/viewvc.cgi/php-src/ext/mbstring/libmbfl/filters/mbfilter_htmlent.c?r1=1.7&r2=1.8
- http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?objectID=c02029444
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-02/msg00002.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2009-04/msg00003.html
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=124654546101607&w=2
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=125631037611762&w=2
- http://secunia.com/advisories/34642
- http://secunia.com/advisories/35003
- http://secunia.com/advisories/35074
- http://secunia.com/advisories/35306
- http://secunia.com/advisories/35650
- http://securitytracker.com/id?1021482
- http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
- http://wiki.rpath.com/Advisories:rPSA-2009-0035
- http://www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1789
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:045
- http://www.php.net/ChangeLog-5.php#5.2.7
- http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-0350.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/501376/100/0/threaded
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32948
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/47525
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10286
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-May/msg01451.html
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2009-May/msg01465.html