# CVE-2008-5232: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via a buffer overflow in the Windows Media Services ActiveX control, requiring user interaction.

- **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:** No
- **Published:** 26 Nov 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v7fh-fq7j-c7rm

## What is CVE-2008-5232?

CVE-2008-5232 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000, published on 26 Nov 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

Buffer overflow in the CallHTMLHelp method in the Microsoft Windows Media Services ActiveX control in nskey.dll 4.1.00.3917 in Windows Media Services on Microsoft Windows NT and 2000, and Avaya Media and Message Application servers, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long argument.  NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-5232?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Microsoft Windows 2000, Microsoft Windows Nt.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-5232?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-5232 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-5232 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5232 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Microsoft Windows Media Services 'nskey.dll' 4.1 - ActiveX Control Remote Buffer Overflow (exploitdb)

## 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-2008-5232 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-5232 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Microsoft Windows 2000, published on 26 Nov 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5232 exists.

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-2008-5232/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5232/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5232
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5232
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-5232

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5232/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.