What is CVE-2008-1887?

CVE-2008-1887 is a vulnerability in Python, classified under Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (Classic Buffer Overflow). Published 2008-04-18.

Is CVE-2008-1887 known to be exploited?

2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Buffer overflow in Python

CVE-2008-1887

Python 2.5.2 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via multiple vectors that cause a negative size value to be provided to the PyString_FromStringAndSize function, which allocates less memory than expected when assert() is disabled and triggers a buffer overflow.

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2008-04-18 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 9.3 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.063 (93.4th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 93rd percentile — 93.4% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.063 · newest: 0.063 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Python
Canonical Ubuntu Linux — versions 6.06, 7.04, 7.10
Debian Linux — versions 4.0

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-120 — Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (Classic Buffer Overflow)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-08/msg00006.html (vendor-advisory, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
bugs.python.org/issue2587 (Exploit, Issue Tracking, Vendor Advisory)
security.gentoo.org/glsa/glsa-200807-01.xml (vendor-advisory, Third Party Advisory)
secunia.com/advisories/30872 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)
www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/506056/100/0/threaded (mailing-list, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
secunia.com/advisories/33937 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8624 (signature, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
secunia.com/advisories/37471 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/41944 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
secunia.com/advisories/31687 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-1887?: CVE-2008-1887 is a vulnerability in Python, classified under Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (Classic Buffer Overflow). Published 2008-04-18.
Is CVE-2008-1887 known to be exploited?: 2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.