Microsoft · Windows
CVE-2008-4250
Microsoft Windows Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
What it is
The Server service in Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, Server 2008, and 7 Pre-Beta allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPC request that triggers the overflow during path canonicalization, as exploited in the wild by Gimmiv.A in October 2008, aka "Server Service Vulnerability."
CISA: Microsoft Windows contains a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Windows Server Service that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted RPC request that triggers an overflow during path canonicalization.
What to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Deadline for US federal agencies: June 3, 2026
- Added to the CISA list
- May 20, 2026
- Published
- October 23, 2008
- Severity
- Critical 9.8 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 99% in the top 0.1% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-94
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (19)
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=122703006921213&w=2
- http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=122703006921213&w=2
- https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2008/ms08-067
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32326
- http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/827267
- http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021091
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7132
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6841
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/31874
- http://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/1150
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/6824
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2902
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46040
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497808/100/0/threaded
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-297A.html
- https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7104
- http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-088A.html
- https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6093
- http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/497816/100/0/threaded
More exploited flaws from Microsoft
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 13, 2026 | Command Injection | Windows | High 8.8 | 9.8% |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Link Following | Windows | High 7.8 | 0.4% |
| Sep 8, 2026 | Heap-Based Buffer Overflow | Windows | High 7.8 | 0.4% |
| Apr 28, 2026 | Protection Mechanism Failure | Windows | Medium 4.3 | 71% |
| Apr 13, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Read | Windows | High 7.8 | 12% |
| Apr 13, 2026 | Link Following | Windows | High 7.8 | 4.6% |
| Feb 17, 2026 | Microsoft Windows Video ActiveX Control Remote Code Execution | Windows | High 8.8 | 77% |
| Feb 10, 2026 | Shell Protection Mechanism Failure | Windows | High 8.8 | 61% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.