CVE-2008-2540 json
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 conte…
published 2008-06-03 18 y ago modified 2026-06-16 4 mo ago also EUVD-2008-2535
- cvss
- 9.3
- version 2.0, NVD
- cisa kev
- Not listed
- not in CISA's catalog
- epss
- 8.3%
- EPSS 8.3% chance of exploitation in 30 days, percentile 94%
- public exploits
- 0
- none known
Summary
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.
Patch / fix
Exploit prediction
8.31% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 94% of all scored CVEs (FIRST EPSS, 2026-11-08).
CVSS scores
| assigned by | version | score | vector |
|---|---|---|---|
| NVD | 2.0 | 9.3 | AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C |
Classification
- Weakness
-
- CWE-264 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls
References
-
microsoft.com
/technet/security/advisory/953818.mspx
mitigation, patch, vendor-advisory
-
docs.microsoft.com
/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-014
vendor-advisory
-
lists.apple.com
/archives/security-announce/2008//Jun/msg00001.html
vendor-advisory, mailing-list
-
docs.microsoft.com
/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2009/ms09-015
vendor-advisory
-
secunia.com
/advisories/30467
third-party-advisory
-
vupen.com
/english/advisories/2009/1028
vdb-entry, broken-link
-
securitytracker.com
/id?1022047
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
-
securitytracker.com
/id?1020150
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
-
securityfocus.com
/bid/29445
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
-
vupen.com
/english/advisories/2009/1029
vdb-entry, broken-link
-
us-cert.gov
/cas/techalerts/TA09-104A.html
third-party-advisory, us-government-resource
-
oval.cisecurity.org
/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A8509
vdb-entry, signature, third-party-advisory
-
blogs.zdnet.com
/security/?p=1230
third-party-advisory
-
support.nortel.com
/go/main.jsp?cscat=BLTNDETAIL&id=871138
third-party-advisory
-
dhanjani.com
/archives/2008/05/safari_carpet_bomb.html
broken-link
-
aviv.raffon.net
/2008/05/31/SafariPwnsInternetExplorer.aspx
third-party-advisory
-
oval.cisecurity.org
/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A5782
vdb-entry, signature, third-party-advisory
-
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com
/vulnerabilities/42765
vdb-entry, third-party-advisory
-
oval.cisecurity.org
/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A6108
vdb-entry, signature, third-party-advisory
-
support.avaya.com
/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2009-133.htm
third-party-advisory
-
vupen.com
/english/advisories/2008/1706
vdb-entry, broken-link
Sources
- CVE List CVE-2008-2540
- NVD CVE-2008-2540
Fencer Vulns keeps one entry per vulnerability: the CVE id wins, then GHSA, and records that alias each other are merged, except that two CVEs always keep separate entries. The same data is available as JSON.