CVE-2008-5183: Software Security Vulnerability Vulnerability

MODERATE
Advisory Identifier: GHSA-9pqm-v858-jg26
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CVSS 7.5
CWE-476
Published
Advisory Summary

CVE-2008-5183 is a MODERATE (CVSS 7.5) security vulnerability vulnerability (CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference) affecting Software libraries in the Maven ecosystem. The weakness occurs when the product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is null.. Remediation is available in the latest vendor maintenance releases.

CVE-2008-5183 at a Glance

CVE Identifier CVE-2008-5183
GHSA Identifier GHSA-9pqm-v858-jg26
Severity MODERATE
CVSS v3.1 Base Score 7.5
CWE Classification CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference
Affected Product Software
Package Ecosystem Maven
Published Date
Last Updated

Security Impact

CVSS: 7.5

The security impact metrics below are parsed directly from the CVSS v3.1 vector string (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H).

Attack Vector Network (AV:N)
Attack Complexity Low (AC:L)
Privileges Required None (PR:N)
User Interaction None (UI:N)
Scope Unchanged (S:U)
Confidentiality None (C:N)
Integrity None (I:N)
Availability High (A:H)

How to Fix CVE-2008-5183

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-2008-5183, 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 CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference, where the product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is null. 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

cupsd in CUPS 1.3.9 and earlier allows local users, and possibly remote attackers, to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) by adding a large number of RSS Subscriptions, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference. NOTE: this issue can be triggered remotely by leveraging CVE-2008-5184.

References

NVD — CVE-2008-5183 NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5183
bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cups... WEB
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/cups/+bug/298241
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/466... WEB
https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/46684
Software Security Information SECURITY
https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10586
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7150 WEB
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7150
lab.gnucitizen.org/projects/cups-0day WEB
http://lab.gnucitizen.org/projects/cups-0day
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Feb/msg00000.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00002.html
secunia.com/advisories/33937 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/33937
secunia.com/advisories/43521 WEB
http://secunia.com/advisories/43521
support.apple.com/kb/ht3438 WEB
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3438
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.debian.org/security/2011/dsa-2176
www.gnucitizen.org/blog/pwning-ubuntu-... WEB
http://www.gnucitizen.org/blog/pwning-ubuntu-via-cups
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:028
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/11/19/3
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/11/19/4
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/11/20/1
www.redhat.com/support/errata/rhsa... WEB
http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-1029.html
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32419
Software Security Information SECURITY
http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021396
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/... WEB
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0422
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/... WEB
http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0535

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2008-5183?
CVE-2008-5183 is a security vulnerability in Software classified as a security vulnerability vulnerability under CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference.
Which Software versions are affected?
Affected versions include releases prior to current release patches.
What version fixes CVE-2008-5183?
Upgrading to current release patches (or the latest patched release for your respective branch) resolves the vulnerability.
What is the CVSS score of CVE-2008-5183?
CVE-2008-5183 has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.5 (MODERATE) with vector string CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
What CWE is associated with CVE-2008-5183?
CVE-2008-5183 is classified under CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference (The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.).
How can I check Maven dependencies for CVE-2008-5183?
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
View Raw JSON 
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  "id" : "GHSA-9pqm-v858-jg26",
  "modified" : "2025-04-09T04:00:58Z",
  "published" : "2022-05-17T00:45:23Z",
  "aliases" : [ "CVE-2008-5183" ],
  "details" : "cupsd in CUPS 1.3.9 and earlier allows local users, and possibly remote attackers, to cause a denial of service (daemon crash) by adding a large number of RSS Subscriptions, which triggers a NULL pointer dereference.  NOTE: this issue can be triggered remotely by leveraging CVE-2008-5184.",
  "severity" : [ {
    "type" : "CVSS_V3",
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    "url" : "http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2009/Feb/msg00000.html"
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    "type" : "WEB",
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    "type" : "WEB",
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  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2008/11/20/1"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-1029.html"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32419"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021396"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2009/0422"
  }, {
    "type" : "WEB",
    "url" : "http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2011/0535"
  } ],
  "database_specific" : {
    "cwe_ids" : [ "CWE-476" ],
    "severity" : "MODERATE",
    "github_reviewed" : false,
    "github_reviewed_at" : null,
    "nvd_published_at" : "2008-11-21T02:30:00Z"
  }
}