# CVE-2008-4038: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code on Windows systems via a crafted SMB request exploiting a buffer underflow.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Oct 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-vpqx-whj4-pjxx

## What is CVE-2008-4038?

CVE-2008-4038 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000, published on 15 Oct 2008. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Buffer underflow in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, and Server 2008 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a Server Message Block (SMB) request that contains a filename with a crafted length, aka "SMB Buffer Underflow Vulnerability."

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-4038?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Microsoft Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Xp.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-4038?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-4038 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-4038 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-4038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows 2000

- [CVE-2008-4250](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4250/): Microsoft Windows Buffer Overflow (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2010-0232](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0232/): Microsoft Windows Kernel Exception Handler (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2009-1123](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-1123/): Microsoft Windows Improper Input Validation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2002-0367](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0367/): Microsoft Windows Privilege Escalation (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2010-0269](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-0269/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-4038 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-4038 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000, published on 15 Oct 2008. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-4038 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Windows 2000. 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-2008-4038/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4038/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4038
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4038
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-4038

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4038/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.