What is CVE-2008-3531?

CVE-2008-3531 is a vulnerability in FreeBSD, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2008-09-05.

Is CVE-2008-3531 known to be exploited?

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

Buffer overflow in FreeBSD

CVE-2008-3531

Stack-based buffer overflow in sys/kern/vfs_mount.c in the kernel in FreeBSD 7.0 and 7.1, when vfs.usermount is enabled, allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted (1) mount or (2) nmount system call, related to copying of "user defined data" in "certain error conditions."

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2008-09-05 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 6.9 (Medium). Vector: AV:L/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: 0.010 (62.3th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 62nd percentile — 62.3% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.010 · newest: 0.010 · change: 0.000

Affected products

FreeBSD — versions 7.0, 7.1

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-119 — Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.securityfocus.com/bid/31002 (Patch, vdb-entry)
www.securitytracker.com/id (vdb-entry)
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/45143 (vdb-entry)
security.FreeBSD.org/advisories/FreeBSD-SA-08:08.nmount.asc (vendor-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3531?: CVE-2008-3531 is a vulnerability in FreeBSD, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2008-09-05.
Is CVE-2008-3531 known to be exploited?: 4 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.