Is CVE-2008-3573 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available for CVE-2008-3573, but active exploitation has not been confirmed.

Can CVE-2008-3573 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2008-3573 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2008-3573?

CVE-2008-3573 has a CVSS score of 5.0 (MEDIUM).

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MEDIUMPOC

CVE-2008-3573

CWE-189Published: August 10, 2008· Updated: Jun 16, 2026

5.0

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

The CAPTCHA implementation in (1) Pligg 9.9.5 and possibly (2) Francisco Burzi PHP-Nuke 8.1 provides a critical random number (the ts_random value) within the URL in the SRC attribute of an IMG element, which allows remote attackers to pass the CAPTCHA test via a calculation that combines this value with the current date and the HTTP User-Agent string.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2008-3573 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.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2008-3573. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.