---
title: "CVE-2008-3659\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-2008-3659?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2008-3659

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

Buffer overflow in the memnstr function in PHP 4.4.x before 4.4.9 and PHP
5.6 through 5.2.6 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of
service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via the delimiter
argument to the explode function. NOTE: the scope of this issue is limited
since most applications would not use an attacker-controlled delimiter, but
local attacks against safe\_mode are feasible.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-3659?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| php4 | 9.10 karmic | Not in release |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not in release |
| 8.10 intrepid | Not in release |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not in release |
| 7.10 gutsy | Not in release |
| 7.04 feisty | Not in release |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Ignored end of life |
| php5 | 9.10 karmic | Not affected |
| 9.04 jaunty | Not affected |
| 8.10 intrepid | Fixed 5.2.6-2ubuntu4.1 |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Fixed 5.2.4-2ubuntu5.5 |
| 7.10 gutsy | Fixed 5.2.3-1ubuntu6.5 |
| 7.04 feisty | Ignored end of life, was needed |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Fixed 5.1.2-1ubuntu3.13 |

---

* [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-2008-3659?format=md#patch-details)

## Notes

---

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

per Debian, php5 -d memory\_limit=256M -r \
'$res = explode(str\_repeat("A",145999999),1);'
(From upstream's ext/standard/tests/strings/explode\_bug.phpt)

### 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 |
| --- | --- |
| php5 | * Vendor:   <http://www.debian.org/security/2008/dsa-1647> * Vendor:   <http://patch-tracking.debian.net/patch/series/view/php5/5.2.0-8+etch13/139-CVE-2008-3659.patch> * Upstream:   <http://cvs.php.net/viewvc.cgi/ZendEngine2/zend_operators.h?r1=1.94.2.4.2.11&r2=1.94.2.4.2.12&view=patch> * Upstream:   <http://cvs.php.net/viewvc.cgi/php-src/ext/standard/tests/strings/explode_bug.phpt?hideattic=1&r1=1.1&r2=1.1.2.1> |

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-3659)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-3659)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2008-3659)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2008-3659)

### Related Ubuntu Security Notices (USN)

+ [USN-720-1](https://usn.ubuntu.com/USN-720-1)
+ PHP vulnerabilities
+ 12 February 2009

### Other references

* <https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/php5/+bug/286851>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-3659>