# CVE-2008-3971: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking a user into opening a crafted man page in gmanedit due to a heap buffer overflow.

- **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:** 10 Sep 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2008-3971, GHSA-fq24-8rh6-w2ch

## What is CVE-2008-3971?

CVE-2008-3971 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 10 Sep 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

Heap-based buffer overflow in the open_man_file function in callbacks.c in gmanedit 0.4.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted man page, which is not properly handled during utf8 conversion.  NOTE: another overflow was reported using a configuration file, but that vector does not have a scenario that crosses privilege boundaries.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-3971?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Gmanedit2 Gmanedit.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-3971?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-3971 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-3971 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-3971 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-3971 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 10 Sep 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-2008-3971 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-2008-3971/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3971/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3971
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3971
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-3971

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3971/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.