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CVE-2008-5541

Status: ModifiedHigh (9.3)—

Sophos Anti-Virus 4.33.0, 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)

Sophos — Anti-virus

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2008-5541",
  "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": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "cve@mitre.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "product": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "n/a"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2008-12-12T18:30:03.077",
  "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"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-20"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Sophos Anti-Virus 4.33.0, 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": "Sophos Anti-Virus v4.33.0, 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": "2026-06-16T23:00:30.627",
  "configurations": [
    {
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        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
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              "vulnerable": true,
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            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        },
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
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            },
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  "sourceIdentifier": "cve@mitre.org"
}