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CVE-2008-3908

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to...

10.0 HighFix available

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Exploit likelihood

4.43%Unchanged since Feb 4, 2022
90%50%10%1%

What each source reports

NVD Score used 10.0

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
CVE-2008-3908
CVSS 2.0
10.0 HighAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Weakness
CWE-119
Updated
2026-11-02
CVE List No score

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
CVE-2008-3908
Updated
2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2008-3894 No score

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
EUVD-2008-3894
Updated
2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-7rh6-v5xq-4587 No score

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to...

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
GHSA-7rh6-v5xq-4587
Weakness
CWE-119
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVAZL-37061 No score

CVE-2008-3908 affecting package wordnet for versions less than 3.0-43

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
AZL-37061
Updated
2026-11-05
OSVAZL-7423 No score

CVE-2008-3908 affecting package wordnet for versions less than 3.0-38

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
AZL-7423
Updated
2026-11-02
OSV No score

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
CVE-2008-3908
Updated
2026-11-02
OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2008-3908 No score

Multiple buffer overflows in Princeton WordNet (wn) 3.0 allow context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) a long argument on the command line; a long (2) WNSEARCHDIR, (3) WNHOME, or (4) WNDBVERSION environment variable; or (5) a user-supplied dictionary (aka data file). NOTE: since WordNet itself does not run with special privileges, this issue only crosses privilege boundaries when WordNet is invoked as a third party component.

Record
DEBIAN-CVE-2008-3908
Updated
2026-11-02

Affected products

Affected packages

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
wordnet
Azure Linux:3
 before 3.0-43
3.0-43
wordnet
Azure Linux:2
 before 3.0-38
3.0-38
wordnet
Debian:12
 before 1:3.0-12
1:3.0-12
wordnet
Debian:13
 before 1:3.0-12
1:3.0-12
wordnet
Debian:14
 before 1:3.0-12
1:3.0-12
wordnet
Debian:4.0
From an advisory covering 2 CVEs
 before 1:2.1-4+etch1, plus listed versions
1:2.1-4
1:2.1-4+etch1
wordnet
Debian:5.0
 before 3.0-11+lenny1
3.0-11+lenny1

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
affected
factsOSV
aliasesEUVD
first indexedCVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2008-3908 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 10.0) in Princeton University Wordnet, published September 1, 2008. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 4.43%, the 91st percentile. Fixed in wordnet 3.0-43.

References

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