CVE-2008-2540
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before...
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before downloading an object that has an unrecognized content type, which allows remote attackers to place malware into the (1) Desktop directory on Windows or (2) Downloads directory on Mac OS X, and subsequently allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows by leveraging an untrusted search path vulnerability in (a) Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP or (b) the SearchPath function in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008, aka a "Carpet Bomb" and a "Blended Threat Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2008-1032. NOTE: Apple considers this a vulnerability only because the Microsoft products can load application libraries from the desktop and, as of 20080619, has not covered the issue in an advisory for Mac OS X.
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
9.3
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before downloading an object that has an unrecognized content type, which allows remote attackers to place malware into the (1) Desktop directory on Windows or (2) Downloads directory on Mac OS X, and subsequently allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows by leveraging an untrusted search path vulnerability in (a) Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP or (b) the SearchPath function in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008, aka a "Carpet Bomb" and a "Blended Threat Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2008-1032. NOTE: Apple considers this a vulnerability only because the Microsoft products can load application libraries from the desktop and, as of 20080619, has not covered the issue in an advisory for Mac OS X.
- Record
CVE-2008-2540- CVSS 2.0
- 9.3 High
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-264
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before downloading an object that has an unrecognized content type, which allows remote attackers to place malware into the (1) Desktop directory on Windows or (2) Downloads directory on Mac OS X, and subsequently allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows by leveraging an untrusted search path vulnerability in (a) Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP or (b) the SearchPath function in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008, aka a "Carpet Bomb" and a "Blended Threat Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2008-1032. NOTE: Apple considers this a vulnerability only because the Microsoft products can load application libraries from the desktop and, as of 20080619, has not covered the issue in an advisory for Mac OS X.
- Record
CVE-2008-2540- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2008-2535 No score
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before downloading an object that has an unrecognized content type, which allows remote attackers to place malware into the (1) Desktop directory on Windows or (2) Downloads directory on Mac OS X, and subsequently allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows by leveraging an untrusted search path vulnerability in (a) Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP or (b) the SearchPath function in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008, aka a "Carpet Bomb" and a "Blended Threat Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2008-1032. NOTE: Apple considers this a vulnerability only because the Microsoft products can load application libraries from the desktop and, as of 20080619, has not covered the issue in an advisory for Mac OS X.
- Record
EUVD-2008-2535- Updated
- 2026-11-03
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-6mfp-r743-cc3p No score
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before...
Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before downloading an object that has an unrecognized content type, which allows remote attackers to place malware into the (1) Desktop directory on Windows or (2) Downloads directory on Mac OS X, and subsequently allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows by leveraging an untrusted search path vulnerability in (a) Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP or (b) the SearchPath function in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008, aka a "Carpet Bomb" and a "Blended Threat Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2008-1032. NOTE: Apple considers this a vulnerability only because the Microsoft products can load application libraries from the desktop and, as of 20080619, has not covered the issue in an advisory for Mac OS X.
- Record
GHSA-6mfp-r743-cc3p- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| aliases | EUVD | |
| first indexed | CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2008-2540 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 9.3) in Apple Safari, published June 3, 2008. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 8.31%, the 94th percentile. No source names a fixed version.
References
secunia.com/advisories/30467
vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1028
securitytracker.com/id?1022047
securitytracker.com/id?1020150
securityfocus.com/bid/29445
microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/953818.mspx
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vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1029
us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.html
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8509
blogs.zdnet.com/security?p=1230
support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=871138
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-014
dhanjani.com/archives/2008/05/safari_carpet_bomb.html
lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008//Jun/msg00001.html
aviv.raffon.net/2008/05/31/SafariPwnsInternetExplorer.aspx
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5782
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/42765
docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-015
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6108
support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2009-133.htm
vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1706
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-2540
github.com/advisories/GHSA-6mfp-r743-cc3p