# CVE-2008-3546: Memory corruption in n/a

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code via a stack-based buffer overflow in Git utilities when processing excessively long PATH variables.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Aug 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DSA-1637-1, DTSA-153-1, DTSA-153-2, GHSA-j9cr-wr26-g3fp

## What is CVE-2008-3546?

CVE-2008-3546 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Aug 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Stack-based buffer overflow in the (1) diff_addremove and (2) diff_change functions in GIT before 1.5.6.4 might allow local users to execute arbitrary code via a PATH whose length is larger than the system's PATH_MAX when running GIT utilities such as git-diff or git-grep.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-3546?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Git Git.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-3546?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-3546 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3546 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2024-32002](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32002/): Git's recursive clones on case-insensitive filesystems that support symlinks are susceptible to Remote Code Execution (critical 9.1)
- [CVE-2024-52005](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-52005/): The sideband payload is passed unfiltered to the terminal in git (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2008-5517](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5517/): Command injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2006-0477](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2006-0477/): Memory corruption in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2009-2108](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2108/): Denial of service in n/a (medium 5.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-3546 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-3546 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Aug 2008. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3546 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2008-3546/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3546/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3546
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3546
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-3546

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3546/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.