# CVE-2008-4221: Memory corruption in n/a

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via crafted date strings in Mac OS X strptime API.

- **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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 17 Dec 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-g4pf-rq76-fcx3

## What is CVE-2008-4221?

CVE-2008-4221 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 17 Dec 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

The strptime API in Libsystem in Apple Mac OS X before 10.5.6 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted date string, related to improper memory allocation.

Weakness: CWE-399

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-4221?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Apple Mac Os X Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-4221?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-4221 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-4221 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2008-4221 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-4221 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-4221 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 17 Dec 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-2008-4221 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. 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-2008-4221/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4221/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4221
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4221
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-4221

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4221/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.