CVE-2008-4250

Published Oct 23, 2008

Last updated 2 months ago

Exploit knownCVSS critical 9.8
Microsoft Windows
Server Service
Windows Server

Overview

AI description

Automated description summarized from trusted sources.

CVE-2008-4250 describes a buffer overflow vulnerability found within the Server service of several Microsoft Windows operating systems. This flaw allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability is triggered when a specially crafted Remote Procedure Call (RPC) request causes an overflow during the process of path canonicalization. This "Server Service Vulnerability" was actively exploited in the wild, notably by the Gimmiv.A malware, around October 2008. The affected software includes Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP2 and SP3, Server 2003 SP1 and SP2, Vista Gold and SP1, Server 2008, and Windows 7 Pre-Beta.

Description
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."
Source
secure@microsoft.com
NVD status
Analyzed
Products
windows_2000, windows_server_2003, windows_server_2008, windows_vista, windows_xp

Risk scores

CVSS 3.1

Type
Secondary
Base score
9.8
Impact score
5.9
Exploitability score
3.9
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Severity
CRITICAL

CVSS 2.0

Type
Primary
Base score
10
Impact score
10
Exploitability score
10
Vector string
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Known exploits

Data from CISA

Vulnerability name
Microsoft Windows Buffer Overflow Vulnerability
Exploit added on
May 20, 2026
Exploit action due
Jun 3, 2026
Required action
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Weaknesses

nvd@nist.gov
CWE-94
134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
CWE-119

Social media

Hype score
Not currently trending

Configurations

References

Sources include official advisories and independent security research.