What is CVE-2008-3142?

CVE-2008-3142 is a vulnerability in Python, classified under Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (Classic Buffer Overflow). Published 2008-08-01.

Is CVE-2008-3142 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-2008-3142

Multiple buffer overflows in Python 2.5.2 and earlier on 32bit platforms allow context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or have unspecified other impact via a long string that leads to incorrect memory allocation during Unicode string processing, related to the unicode_resize function and the PyMem_RESIZE macro.

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2008-08-01 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 7.5 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.045 (91.2th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 91st percentile — 91.2% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.045 · newest: 0.045 · 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

oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:8422 (signature, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/495445/100/0/threaded (mailing-list, VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory)
lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2008-08/msg00006.html (vendor-advisory, Mailing List, Third Party Advisory)
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2288 (Permissions Required, vdb-entry)
secunia.com/advisories/32793 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44173 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/30491 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:11466 (signature, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
secunia.com/advisories/33937 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)
secunia.com/advisories/37471 (Not Applicable, third-party-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3142?: CVE-2008-3142 is a vulnerability in Python, classified under Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input (Classic Buffer Overflow). Published 2008-08-01.
Is CVE-2008-3142 known to be exploited?: 2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.