# CVE-2008-5409: Memory corruption in n/a

> Remote attackers can cause denial of service or execute arbitrary code via crafted PDF files processed by vulnerable antivirus software.

- **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:** 9 Dec 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w5c9-rfx7-37rh

## What is CVE-2008-5409?

CVE-2008-5409 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 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

Unspecified vulnerability in the pdf.xmd module in (1) BitDefender Free Edition 10 and Antivirus Standard 10, (2) BullGuard Internet Security 8.5, and (3) Software602 Groupware Server 6.0.08.1118 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted PDF file, possibly related to included compressed streams that were processed with the ASCIIHexDecode filter.  NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-5409?

It affects 4 products.


Products: Bitdefender Antivirus, Bitdefender Bitdefender, Bullguard Internet Security, Software602 Groupware Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-5409?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-5409 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-5409 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5409 exists.

Public exploit code:

- BitDefender - Module pdf.xmd Infinite Loop Denial of Service (PoC) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2007-5775](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-5775/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2025-7073](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-7073/): Local Privilege Escalation via Arbitrary File Operation in Bitdefender Total Security (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-6154](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-6154/): Local privilege escalation in Bitdefender Total Security (VA-11168) (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-8093](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-8093/): Code Injection into Bitdefender AV for Mac (medium 5.3)
- [CVE-2019-17103](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-17103/): Get-task-allow entitlement via BDLDaemon on macOS (medium 4.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-5409 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-5409 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in n/a, published on 9 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: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5409 exists.

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-2008-5409/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5409/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5409
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5409
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-5409

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5409/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.