CVE-2008-2371
CWE-787Published: July 7, 2008· Updated: Jun 16, 2026
Official Description
Heap-based buffer overflow in pcre_compile.c in the Perl-Compatible Regular Expression (PCRE) library 7.7 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a regular expression that begins with an option and contains multiple branches.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2008-2371 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
From a weakness classification perspective (CWE-787): Out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities can lead to data corruption, crashes, or arbitrary code execution.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
Official Patches & Advisories
All References (90)
Quick Facts
Related CVEs (CWE-787)
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2008-2371 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts