CVE-2008-2142: Medium severity gnu emacs vulnerability

Published May 12, 2008
·
Updated

Emacs 21 and XEmacs automatically load and execute .flc (fast lock) files that are associated with other files that are edited within Emacs, which allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code.

Affected Software

2 affected components
GNU Emacs=21.3.1
GNU XEmacs

Event History

May 12, 2008
CVE Published
via MITRE·07:00 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·07:00 PM
Description
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2008-2142?

CVE-2008-2142 has a high severity rating due to the potential for arbitrary code execution.

2

How do I fix CVE-2008-2142?

To fix CVE-2008-2142, upgrade to a patched version of Emacs or XEmacs that disables the automatic loading of .flc files.

3

Which versions of Emacs are affected by CVE-2008-2142?

Emacs version 21.3.1 is specifically affected by CVE-2008-2142.

4

Can CVE-2008-2142 be exploited remotely?

CVE-2008-2142 requires user interaction to exploit, making it a user-assisted attack.

5

What are the implications of exploiting CVE-2008-2142?

Exploiting CVE-2008-2142 can lead to arbitrary code execution, compromising the affected user's system.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203