CVE-2008-4268

The Windows Search component in Microsoft Windows Vista Gold and SP1 and Server 2008 does not properly free memory during a save operation for a Windows Search file, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted saved-search file, aka "Windows Saved Search Vulnerability."

Published: 2008-12-10 Last update: 2026-04-23 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Modified，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2008-4268 is rated Moderate Risk (64.5/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 50.33%, 98th percentile). EPSS ranks this CVE among the most likely to be exploited in the near term. High exploitation likelihood—assess exposure and prioritize remediation.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2008-4268

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2025-06-28 54.07% 50.33% -3.73%
2 2025-05-01 56.46% 54.07% -2.39%
3 2025-03-30 — 56.46% —

Full EPSS history (17 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2008-4268

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
8.5 2.0 HIGH
AV:N/AC:M/Au:S/C:C/I:C/A:C Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:M)
Exploitation needs some favorable conditions, but not exceptional ones.
Authentication (AU:S)
A single authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:C)
Complete confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:C)
Complete integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:C)
Complete availability impact.
 6.8 10.0 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2008-4268

NVD evaluator notes for CVE-2008-4268

Comment: http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-075.mspx Windows Saved Search Vulnerability - CVE-2008-4268 A remote code execution vulnerability exists when saving a specially crafted search file within Windows Explorer. This operation causes Windows Explorer to exit and restart in an exploitable manner.

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2008-4268

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
microsoft windows_server_2008 — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
microsoft windows_server_2008 — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:*:itanium:*:*:*:*:*
microsoft windows_server_2008 — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:*:x32:*:*:*:*:*
microsoft windows_server_2008 — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_server_2008:*:*:x64:*:*:*:*:*
microsoft windows_vista — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:*:*:x64:*:*:*:*:*
microsoft windows_vista — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:*:gold:*:*:*:*:*:*
microsoft windows_vista — cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows_vista:*:sp1:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2008-4268

cvelogic Threat Intelligence