# CVE-2008-3659: Memory corruption in n/a

> Buffer overflow in PHP's explode function allows attackers to cause crashes or execute arbitrary code via a crafted delimiter argument.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.4 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not stated
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 15 Aug 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-q9wh-phxj-rxf5

## What is CVE-2008-3659?

CVE-2008-3659 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Php Php, published on 15 Aug 2008. It can be exploited over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Buffer overflow in the memnstr function in PHP 4.4.x before 4.4.9 and PHP 5.6 through 5.2.6 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via the delimiter argument to the explode function.  NOTE: the scope of this issue is limited since most applications would not use an attacker-controlled delimiter, but local attacks against safe_mode are feasible.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-3659?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Php Php.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-3659?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-3659 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3659 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Php Php

- [CVE-2012-2688](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2688/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2012-2376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2376/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3268](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3268/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-4143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4143/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-5557](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5557/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-3659 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-3659 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Php Php, published on 15 Aug 2008. It can be exploited over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3659 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Php Php. 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-2008-3659/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3659/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3659
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3659
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-3659

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3659/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.