CVE-2008-3655: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

HIGH
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-p524-ppf2-w36w
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2008-3655 is a HIGH security vulnerability vulnerability (General Security Weakness) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2008-3655 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2008-3655
GHSA Identifier GHSA-p524-ppf2-w36w
Severity HIGH
CVSS v3.1 Base Score N/A
CWE Classification General Security Weakness
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

How to Fix CVE-2008-3655

To remediate this vulnerability, upgrade all affected Software dependencies to a patched release. Both direct and transitive dependencies should be checked, as frameworks or security libraries may pull in vulnerable versions transitively.

Verify Direct and Transitive Dependencies

Run the following command in your project directory to verify that all resolved dependencies use the patched release:

mvn dependency:tree

How to Check if You Are Affected

To determine whether your Java application is affected by CVE-2008-3655, inspect your build dependencies using the Maven Dependency Plugin:

mvn dependency:tree

Analyze the terminal output to locate any version of Software in your dependency tree. If any resolved version matches the vulnerable ranges listed in the table below (for example, versions earlier than the patched release), your application is affected.

Note: The mvn dependency:tree command inspects the resolved dependency graph declared in your project's POM files; it does not perform automated security scanning or inspect runtime dynamic classpaths. Always verify runtime container classpaths and shaded JARs.

Technical Details

Vulnerability Mechanism & Technical Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under General Security Weakness. In Software, software state validation or input boundaries are circumvented during processing. Review the official source advisory statement below for specific affected components, classes, and reproduction details.

Source Advisory Statement

Ruby 1.8.5 and earlier, 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-p286, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-p71, and 1.9 through r18423 does not properly restrict access to critical variables and methods at various safe levels, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via (1) untrace_var, (2) $PROGRAM_NAME, and (3) syslog at safe level 4, and (4) insecure methods at safe levels 1 through 3.

References

NVD — CVE-2008-3655 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3655
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/443... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44369
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11602
usn.ubuntu.com/651-1 WEB
https://usn.ubuntu.com/651-1
www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-pac... WEB
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00259.html
www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-pac... WEB
https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00299.html
bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.c... WEB
http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494401
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html
secunia.com/advisories/31430 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/31430
secunia.com/advisories/31697 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/31697
secunia.com/advisories/32165 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/32165
secunia.com/advisories/32219 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/32219
secunia.com/advisories/32255 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/32255
secunia.com/advisories/32256 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/32256
secunia.com/advisories/32371 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/32371
secunia.com/advisories/32372 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/32372
secunia.com/advisories/33178 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/33178
secunia.com/advisories/35074 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/35074
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-17.xml
support.apple.com/kb/ht3549 WEB
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-424.htm
wiki.rpath.com/wiki/advisories:rps... WEB
http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0264
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1651
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1652
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0895.html
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0897.html
www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2008/08/08/... WEB
http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2008/08/08/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-ruby
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495884/100/0/threaded
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30644
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020656
www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/ta09... WEB
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/... WEB
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2334
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/... WEB
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2008-3655?
CVE-2008-3655 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under General Security Weakness.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2008-3655?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2008-3655?
CVE-2008-3655 is classified under General Security Weakness.
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2008-3655?
Run the dependency tree command: 'mvn dependency:tree'. This command lists direct and transitive dependencies in your build configuration so you can verify if a vulnerable version is resolved.
Machine-readable OSV JSON OSV v1.5 Schema
Normalized schema output
{
  "schema_version" : "1.4.0",
  "id" : "GHSA-p524-ppf2-w36w",
  "modified" : "2025-04-09T03:57:31Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-02T00:02:28Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2008-3655" ],
  "details" : "Ruby 1.8.5 and earlier, 1.8.6 through 1.8.6-p286, 1.8.7 through 1.8.7-p71, and 1.9 through r18423 does not properly restrict access to critical variables and methods at various safe levels, which allows context-dependent attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via (1) untrace_var, (2) $PROGRAM_NAME, and (3) syslog at safe level 4, and (4) insecure methods at safe levels 1 through 3.",
  "severity" : [ ],
  "affected" : [ ],
  "references" : [ {
    "type" : "ADVISORY",
    "url" : "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3655"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44369"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A11602"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://usn.ubuntu.com/651-1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00259.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-October/msg00299.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=494401"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/May/msg00002.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/31430"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/31697"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/32165"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/32219"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/32255"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/32256"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/32371"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/32372"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/33178"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://secunia.com/advisories/35074"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200812-17.xml"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3549"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-424.htm"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://wiki.rpath.com/wiki/Advisories:rPSA-2008-0264"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1651"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1652"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0895.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0897.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2008/08/08/multiple-vulnerabilities-in-ruby"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495884/100/0/threaded"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30644"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1020656"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA09-133A.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2334"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/1297"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ ],
    "severity" : "HIGH",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2008-08-13T01:41:00Z"
  }
}