---
title: "CVE-2008-3443\n    | Ubuntu"
description: Ubuntu is an open source software operating system that runs from the
  desktop, to the cloud, to all your internet connected things.
url: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-3443?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2008-3443

Publication date 14 August 2008

Last updated 24 July 2024

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

[Why this priority?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#priority )

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## Description

The regular expression engine (regex.c) in 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 allows
remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop and crash) via
multiple long requests to a Ruby socket, related to memory allocation
failure, and as demonstrated against Webrick.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-3443?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ruby1.8 | 11.10 oneiric | Not affected |
| 11.04 natty | Not affected |
| 10.10 maverick | Not affected |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 9.10 karmic | Not affected |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not affected |
| 8.10 intrepid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Fixed 1.8.6.111-2ubuntu1.2 |
| 7.10 gutsy | Fixed 1.8.6.36-1ubuntu3.3 |
| 7.04 feisty | Fixed 1.8.5-4ubuntu2.3 |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Fixed 1.8.4-1ubuntu1.6 |
| ruby1.9 | 11.10 oneiric | Not in release |
| 11.04 natty | Not in release |
| 10.10 maverick | Not in release |
| 10.04 LTS lucid | Not affected |
| 9.10 karmic | Not affected |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not affected |
| 8.10 intrepid | Fixed 1.9.0.2-7ubuntu1.1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Ignored end of life |
| 7.10 gutsy | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 7.04 feisty | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored end of life |

---

* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)
* [Patch details](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-3443?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

### [jdstrand](https://launchpad.net/~jdstrand)

this should be fixed in svn r20243 for ruby1.9

### Patch details

For informational purposes only. We recommend not to cherry-pick updates. [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)

| Package | Patch details |
| --- | --- |
| ruby1.9 | * Vendor:   <http://svn.debian.org/wsvn/pkg-ruby/ruby1.9/trunk/debian/patches/308_regexp_segv.dpatch?op=file&rev=0&sc=0> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-3443)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3443)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2008-3443)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2008-3443)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-651-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-651-1)
+ Ruby vulnerabilities
+ 10 October 2008

+ [USN-691-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-691-1)
+ Ruby vulnerability
+ 16 December 2008

### Other references

* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3443>