What is CVE-2008-5416?

CVE-2008-5416 is a vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2008-12-10.

Is CVE-2008-5416 known to be exploited?

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

Buffer overflow in Microsoft SQL Server

CVE-2008-5416

Heap-based buffer overflow in Microsoft SQL Server 2000 SP4, 8.00.2050, 8.00.2039, and earlier; SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (MSDE 2000) SP4; SQL Server 2005 SP2 and 9.00.1399.06; SQL Server 2000 Desktop Engine (WMSDE) on Windows Server 2003 SP1 and SP2; and Windows Internal Database (WYukon) SP2 allows remote authenticated users to cause a denial of service (access violation exception) or execute arbitrary code by calling the sp_replwritetovarbin extended stored procedure with a set of invalid parameters that trigger memory overwrite, aka "SQL Server sp_replwritetovarbin Limited Memory Overwrite Vulnerability."

Vulnerability class: Buffer Overflow

Published 2008-12-10 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 9.0 (High). Vector: AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.870 (99.7th percentile), scored 2026-10-15.

High probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — patch promptly. 100th percentile — 99.7% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.870 · newest: 0.870 · change: 0.000

Affected products

Microsoft SQL Server — versions 2000, 2005

Weakness classification (CWE)

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

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

www.sec-consult.com/files/20081209_mssql-2000-sp_replwritetovarbin_memwrite.txt (Exploit)
www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3380 (vdb-entry)
secunia.com/advisories/33034 (Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)
osvdb.org/50917 (vdb-entry)
securitytracker.com/id (vdb-entry)
www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7501 (exploit)
securitytracker.com/id (vdb-entry)
exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/47182 (vdb-entry)
www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/696644 (US Government Resource, third-party-advisory)
www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/499042/100/0/threaded (mailing-list)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2008-5416?: CVE-2008-5416 is a vulnerability in Microsoft SQL Server, classified under Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Published 2008-12-10.
Is CVE-2008-5416 known to be exploited?: 6 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.