# CVE-2008-1802: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a malicious RDP redirect request in the rdesktop client, requiring user interaction to connect.

- **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:** 12 May 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2008-1802, GHSA-33j3-x3m6-jp5m

## What is CVE-2008-1802?

CVE-2008-1802 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 May 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

Buffer overflow in the process_redirect_pdu (rdp.c) function in rdesktop 1.5.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) redirect request with modified length fields.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-1802?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Rdesktop Rdesktop.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-1802?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-1802 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-1802 exists.

Public exploit code:

- rdesktop 1.5.0 - 'process_redirect_pdu()' BSS Overflow (PoC) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2018-20179](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20179/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2008-1801](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1801/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2008-1803](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1803/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2019-15682](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-15682/): Denial of service in RDesktop (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2018-20174](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20174/): Information disclosure in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-1802 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-1802 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 12 May 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-1802 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2008-1802/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1802/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-1802
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-1802
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-1802

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1802/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.