# CVE-2008-1188: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a malicious JNLP file exploiting buffer overflows in Java Web Start, requiring user interaction to open the file.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 Mar 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-x67m-cmr9-2j82

## What is CVE-2008-1188?

CVE-2008-1188 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Sun Jdk, published on 6 Mar 2008. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Multiple buffer overflows in the useEncodingDecl function in Java Web Start in Sun JDK and JRE 6 Update 4 and earlier, and 5.0 Update 14 and earlier, allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a JNLP file with (1) a long key name in the xml header or (2) a long charset value, different issues than CVE-2008-1189, aka "The first two issues."

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-1188?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Sun Jdk, Sun Jre.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-1188?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-1188 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-1188 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Sun Jdk

- [CVE-2011-3521](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3521/): Deserialization in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3548](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3548/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3549](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3549/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3554](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3554/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-0802](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-0802/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-1188 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-1188 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Sun Jdk, published on 6 Mar 2008. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-1188 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Sun Jdk. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1188/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1188/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-1188
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-1188
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-1188

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1188/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.