---
title: "CVE-2008-5078\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-2008-5078?format=md
keywords: index, follow
---

# CVE-2008-5078

Publication date 19 December 2008

Last updated 17 July 2025

---

Ubuntu priority

**Medium**

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

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## Description

Multiple buffer overflows in the (1) recognize\_eps\_file function
(src/psgen.c) and (2) tilde\_subst function (src/util.c) in GNU enscript
1.6.1, and possibly earlier, might allow remote attackers to execute
arbitrary code via an epsf escape sequence with a long filename.

[Read the notes from the security team](https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2008-5078?format=md#notes)

## Status

Show unmaintained releases

| Package | Ubuntu Release | Status |
| --- | --- | --- |
| enscript | 8.10 intrepid | Not affected |
| 8.04 LTS hardy | Not affected |
| 7.10 gutsy | Not affected |
| 6.06 LTS dapper | Not affected |

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* [How can I get the fixes?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#security)
* [What do statuses mean?](https://ubuntu.com/security/cves/about#statuses)

## Notes

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

flaws do not affect enscript 1.6.4 as per redhat bug

## References

* [MITRE](https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2008-5078)
* [NVD](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5078)
* [Launchpad](https://launchpad.net/bugs/cve/CVE-2008-5078)
* [Debian](https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2008-5078)

### Other references

* <https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=473958>
* <https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5078>