What it is
CVE-2008-4844 is an unauthenticated vulnerability affecting Microsoft Internet Explorer. Use-after-free vulnerability in the CRecordInstance::TransferToDestination function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer...
Vulnerability report
Exploited in the wild
High confidence
Not in CISA KEV
CVE-2008-4844
Internet Explorer
Microsoft / Internet Explorer
- Severity
- CVSS 9.3 · High
- Confidence
- High
- Exploit status
- Exploited in the wild
- EPSS
- 66.5%
- First observed
- —
- Last observed
- —
Decision summary
What security teams need to know first
Direct answers before the deeper technical record.
Is it exploited?
Yes. KEV Intelligence tracks this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability. Confidence is high.
Who is affected?
Microsoft / Internet Explorer.
What should we do?
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
Overview
Internet Explorer
Use-after-free vulnerability in the CRecordInstance::TransferToDestination function in mshtml.dll in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01, 6, 6 SP1, and 7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via DSO bindings involving (1) an XML Island, (2) XML DSOs, or (3) Tabular Data Control (TDC) in a crafted HTML or XML document, as demonstrated by nested SPAN or MARQUEE elements, and exploited in the wild in December 2008.
- Published
- 11 Dec 2008
- Exploitation Reported
- 11 Dec 2008
- Attack vector
- Remote
- Complexity
- —
- Privileges
- None
- User interaction
- —
Tags
metasploit
CVE References
- CVE Record CVE.org · CVE Record https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4844
- HPSBST02397 marc.info · Vendor Advisory http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=123015308222620&w=2
- MS08-078 docs.microsoft.com · Vendor Advisory https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/security-updates/securitybulletins/2...
- TA08-352A us-cert.gov · Third-Party Advisory http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-352A.html
- VU#493881 kb.cert.org · Third-Party Advisory http://www.kb.cert.org/vuls/id/493881
- TA08-344A us-cert.gov · Third-Party Advisory http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/techalerts/TA08-344A.html
- 33089 secunia.com · Third-Party Advisory http://secunia.com/advisories/33089
- 7583 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7583
- 7477 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7477
- 7403 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7403
- 7410 exploit-db.com · Exploit https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/7410
- 1021381 securitytracker.com · VDB Entry http://www.securitytracker.com/id?1021381
- oval:org.mitre.oval:def:6007 oval.cisecurity.org · VDB Entry https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.m...
- 32721 securityfocus.com · VDB Entry http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/32721
- ADV-2008-3391 vupen.com · VDB Entry http://www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2008/3391
- scanw.com/blog/archives/303 scanw.com · CVE Record http://www.scanw.com/blog/archives/303
- isc.sans.org/diary.html isc.sans.org · CVE Record http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=5458
- code.google.com/p/inception-h2hc code.google.com · CVE Record http://code.google.com/p/inception-h2hc/
- breakingpointsystems.com/community/blog/patch-tuesdays-and-drive-by-s... breakingpointsystems.com · CVE Record http://www.breakingpointsystems.com/community/blog/patch-tuesdays-and...
- avertlabs.com/research/blog/index.php/2008/12/09/yet-anoth... avertlabs.com · CVE Record http://www.avertlabs.com/research/blog/index.php/2008/12/09/yet-anoth...
- microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx microsoft.com · CVE Record http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/advisory/961051.mspx
- blogs.msdn.com/sdl/archive/2008/12/18/ms08-078-and-the-sdl.... blogs.msdn.com · CVE Record http://blogs.msdn.com/sdl/archive/2008/12/18/ms08-078-and-the-sdl.aspx
Exploitation evidence
Why KEV Intelligence marks this CVE as exploited
Third-party attestation and first-party sensor observation are shown separately so teams can judge the evidence chain.
Exploited in the wild
CVE
Independent exploitation attestation added to the KEV Intelligence record.
Proof of concept available
Public scanner or PoC coverage increases practical exploitability.
Known exploited vulnerability sources
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEV Intelligence Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CVE First | 2008-12-11 15:00 UTC |
Detection
Operational artifacts and observed signals
Make the evidence actionable in scanner, SOC, and edge-control workflows.
Observed signals
- Request targets
- 0
- User-Agents
- 0
Raw values available in Pro and Enterprise.
Scanner coverage
Metasploit template detected 28 Apr 2025.
View Metasploit template (opens in new tab)Virtual patch status
No KEV Intelligence virtual patch is currently available. Future rules ship for ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF.
Learn about virtual patches →Scanner Artifacts
Scanner and exploit-framework references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/windows/browser/ms08_078_xml_corruption.rb | 28 Apr 2025 |
Risk and context
Severity, weaknesses, and research context
CVSS v2.0
9.3
High
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
EPSS
66.5%
Weaknesses
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
Timeline
From disclosure to observed exploitation
-
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
Added to KEV Intelligence KEV Feed
High-confidence, third-party attested exploitation
-
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Pro API
Automate this intelligence
Confidence, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
- Evidence confidence and provenance
- First-party sensor telemetry
- PoC and scanner references
- Affected versions and enrichment
- Automation-ready JSON delivery
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2008-4844
Free JSON includes basic KEV fields{
"cve_id": "CVE-2008-4844",
"confidence": "High",
"cvss_score": 9.3,
"cvss_estimated": false,
"epss_score": 0.66513,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "attempts": 0, "sensors": 0 }
}Early warning alerts
Get alerts on high-impact exploitation
Receive curator-selected alerts when exploitation activity warrants attention. Each alert includes the evidence and context needed to decide what requires attention now.