What is CVE-2008-3844?

CVE-2008-3844 is a vulnerability in OpenBSD OpenSSH, classified under Improper Input Validation. Published 2008-08-27.

Is CVE-2008-3844 known to be exploited?

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

Improper input validation in OpenBSD OpenSSH

CVE-2008-3844

Certain Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 4 and 5 packages for OpenSSH, as signed in August 2008 using a legitimate Red Hat GPG key, contain an externally introduced modification (Trojan Horse) that allows the package authors to have an unknown impact. NOTE: since the malicious packages were not distributed from any official Red Hat sources, the scope of this issue is restricted to users who may have obtained these packages through unofficial distribution points. As of 20080827, no unofficial distributions of this software are known.

Vulnerability class: Drupalgeddon 2 (CVE-2018-7600)

Published 2008-08-27 · 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: 0.027 (85.1th percentile), scored 2026-09-29.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 85th percentile — 85.1% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.027 · newest: 0.027 · change: 0.000

Affected products

OpenBSD OpenSSH
Red Hat Enterprise Linux — versions 4.5.z, 5.0
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop — versions 4, 5

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-20 — Improper Input Validation

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2008-399.htm (Third Party Advisory)
www.redhat.com/security/data/openssh-blacklist.html (Third Party Advisory)
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/2821 (vdb-entry, Broken Link)
secunia.com/advisories/31575 (Permissions Required, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)
www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2008-0855.html (vendor-advisory, Not Applicable)
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/44747 (vdb-entry)
securitytracker.com/id (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/30794 (VDB Entry, Third Party Advisory, vdb-entry)
secunia.com/advisories/32241 (Permissions Required, Third Party Advisory, third-party-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-3844?: CVE-2008-3844 is a vulnerability in OpenBSD OpenSSH, classified under Improper Input Validation. Published 2008-08-27.
Is CVE-2008-3844 known to be exploited?: 2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.