CVE-2008-2540

Description

Apple Safari on Mac OS X, and before 3.1.2 on Windows, does not prompt the user before downloading an object that has an unrecognized content type, which allows remote attackers to place malware into the (1) Desktop directory on Windows or (2) Downloads directory on Mac OS X, and subsequently allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on Windows by leveraging an untrusted search path vulnerability in (a) Internet Explorer 7 on Windows XP or (b) the SearchPath function in Windows XP, Vista, and Server 2003 and 2008, aka a "Carpet Bomb" and a "Blended Threat Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability," a different issue than CVE-2008-1032. NOTE: Apple considers this a vulnerability only because the Microsoft products can load application libraries from the desktop and, as of 20080619, has not covered the issue in an advisory for Mac OS X.

Category

9.3
CVSS
Severity: Critical
CVSS 2.0 •
EPSS 52.92% Top 5%
Vendor Advisory microsoft.com Vendor Advisory apple.com Vendor Advisory microsoft.com Vendor Advisory microsoft.com
Affected: n/a n/a
Published at:
Updated at:

References

Link Tags
http://secunia.com/advisories/30467 third party advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1028 vdb entry broken link
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1022047 vdb entry third party advisory
http://securitytracker.com/id?1020150 vdb entry third party advisory
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/29445 vdb entry third party advisory
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/953818.mspx patch vendor advisory mitigation
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1029 vdb entry broken link
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.html third party advisory us government resource
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8509 vdb entry third party advisory signature
http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1230 third party advisory
http://support.nortel.com/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=871138 third party advisory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-014 vendor advisory
http://www.dhanjani.com/archives/2008/05/safari_carpet_bomb.html broken link
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2008//Jun/msg00001.html mailing list vendor advisory
http://aviv.raffon.net/2008/05/31/SafariPwnsInternetExplorer.aspx third party advisory
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5782 vdb entry third party advisory signature
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/42765 vdb entry third party advisory
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-015 vendor advisory
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6108 vdb entry third party advisory signature
http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2009-133.htm third party advisory
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/1706 vdb entry broken link

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2008-2540?
CVE-2008-2540 has been scored as a critical severity vulnerability.
How to fix CVE-2008-2540?
To fix CVE-2008-2540, make sure you are using an up-to-date version of the affected component(s) by checking the vendor release notes. As for now, there are no other specific guidelines available.
Is CVE-2008-2540 being actively exploited in the wild?
It is possible that CVE-2008-2540 is being exploited or will be exploited in a near future based on public information. According to its EPSS score, there is a ~53% probability that this vulnerability will be exploited by malicious actors in the next 30 days.
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