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CVE-2008-5521

Status: ModifiedHigh (9.3)—

Avira AntiVir 7.9.0.36 and possibly 7.8.1.28, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ header (aka "EXE info") at the beginning, and modifying the filename to have (1) no extension, (2) a .txt extension, or (3) a .jpg extension, as demonstrated by a document containing a CVE-2006-5745 exploit.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

Free-av — Antivir

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2008-5521",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 9.3,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 10,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": true,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": false
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "cve@mitre.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "product": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "n/a"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2008-12-12T18:30:02.670",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4723",
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498995/100/0/threaded",
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/499043/100/0/threaded",
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/47435",
      "source": "cve@mitre.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://securityreason.com/securityalert/4723",
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/498995/100/0/threaded",
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/499043/100/0/threaded",
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/47435",
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
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  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
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      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-20"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Avira AntiVir 7.9.0.36 and possibly 7.8.1.28, when Internet Explorer 6 or 7 is used, allows remote attackers to bypass detection of malware in an HTML document by placing an MZ header (aka \"EXE info\") at the beginning, and modifying the filename to have (1) no extension, (2) a .txt extension, or (3) a .jpg extension, as demonstrated by a document containing a CVE-2006-5745 exploit."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Avira AntiVir v7.9.0.36 y posiblemente v7.8.1.28, cuando se utiliza Internet Explorer 6 o 7, permite a atacantes remotos eludir la detección de malware en un documento HTML colocando una cabecera MZ (alias \"EXE info\") al principio, y modificar el nombre del archivo a (1 ) sin extensión, (2) una extensión. txt, o (3) una extensión .jpg, como lo demuestra un documento que contiene un exploit CVE-2006-5745."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-16T23:00:28.327",
  "configurations": [
    {
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          "cpeMatch": [
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              "vulnerable": true,
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            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:free-av:antivir:7.9.0.36:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "B56B4F4B-2BB0-4137-BF18-A613E8289F27"
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          ],
          "operator": "OR"
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  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}