# CVE-2008-2664: Memory corruption in n/a

> Attackers can trigger memory corruption in the Ruby string formatting function, potentially leading to code execution or denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not stated
- **Attackable:** Not stated
- **Victim action needed:** Not stated
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 24 Jun 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-c4h6-p7gp-39x2

## What is CVE-2008-2664?

CVE-2008-2664 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 24 Jun 2008. 

### Official description

The rb_str_format function in Ruby 1.8.4 and earlier, 1.8.5 before 1.8.5-p231, 1.8.6 before 1.8.6-p230, 1.8.7 before 1.8.7-p22, and 1.9.0 before 1.9.0-2 allows context-dependent attackers to trigger memory corruption via unspecified vectors related to alloca, a different issue than CVE-2008-2662, CVE-2008-2663, and CVE-2008-2725.  NOTE: as of 20080624, there has been inconsistent usage of multiple CVE identifiers related to Ruby. The CVE description should be regarded as authoritative, although it is likely to change.

Weakness: CWE-399

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-2664?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Ruby-Lang Ruby.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-2664?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-2664 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-2664 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Canonical Ubuntu Linux

- [CVE-2020-11651](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11651/): SaltStack Salt Authentication Bypass (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-7247](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-7247/): OpenSMTPD Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-16928](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-16928/): Exim Out-of-bounds Write (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-6789](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-6789/): Exim Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-2590](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-2590/): Oracle Java SE and Java SE Embedded Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-2664 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-2664 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Canonical Ubuntu Linux, published on 24 Jun 2008. 
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-2664 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Canonical Ubuntu Linux. 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-2008-2664/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2664/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-2664
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-2664
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-2664

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2664/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.