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10.0
CVE-2008-3533: Yelp help viewer can run malicious code via crafted link
CVE-2008-3533 · published 18 years ago
Summary
Versions of the Yelp help viewer included in GNOME before 2.24 can be tricked into executing code when they open a specially formed web address. An attacker could embed such an address in a web page, email, or other program and cause the victim’s computer to run the attacker’s code. Install the latest Debian yelp package or apply the security update that fixes the issue.
What to do
- Update debian yelp to version 2.22.1-4.
- Update gnome yelp to version 2.24 or later.
Affected software
| Ecosystem | Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | debian | yelp |
< 2.22.1-4 Fix: upgrade to 2.22.1-4
|
| Debian:13 | debian | yelp |
< 2.22.1-4 Fix: upgrade to 2.22.1-4
|
| Debian:14 | debian | yelp |
< 2.22.1-4 Fix: upgrade to 2.22.1-4
|
| – | gnome | yelp |
< 2.24 cpe:2.3:a:gnome:yelp:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
| – | gnome | gnome |
2.20 2.22 cpe:2.3:a:gnome:gnome:2.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:* |
Original advisory text
Format string vulnerability in the window_error function in yelp-window.c in yelp in Gnome after 2.19.90 and before 2.24 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifie...
Format string vulnerability in the window_error function in yelp-window.c in yelp in Gnome after 2.19.90 and before 2.24 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via format string specifiers in an invalid URI on the command line, as demonstrated by use of yelp within (1) man or (2) ghelp URI handlers in Firefox, Evolution, and unspecified other programs.
References
- https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2008-3533 Vendor Advisory
- http://bugzilla.gnome.org/attachment.cgi?id=115890 Exploit Issue Tracking
- http://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=546364 Exploit Issue Tracking Patch
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-11/msg00000.html Mailing List Third Party Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31465 Vendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31620 Vendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/31834 Vendor Advisory
- http://secunia.com/advisories/32629 Vendor Advisory
- http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2008:175 Product
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/30690 Third Party Advisory VDB Entry
- http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/usn-638-1 Third Party Advisory
- http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2393 Broken Link
- https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/yelp/+bug/254860 Exploit Patch
- https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44449 VDB Entry
- https://www.redhat.com/archives/fedora-package-announce/2008-September/msg00222.... Mailing List Third Party Advisory
Severity
10.0
Critical
Type
CWE-134Use of Externally-Controlled Format String
Timeline
Published18 Aug 2008
Updated19 Oct 2026
First seen20 Sep 2026
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