CVE-2008-5617: High severity rsyslog Rsyslog vulnerability

Published Dec 17, 2008
·
Updated

The ACL handling in rsyslog 3.12.1 to 3.20.0, 4.1.0, and 4.1.1 does not follow $AllowedSender directive, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions and spoof log messages or create a large number of spurious messages.

Affected Software

28 affected components
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.1
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.12.2
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.17.4-beta
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.13.0
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.9
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.12.4
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.8
rsyslog Rsyslog=4.1.1
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.12
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.11
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.17.1
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.6
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.10
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.17.0
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.7
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.12.3
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.0
rsyslog Rsyslog=4.1.0
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.12.1
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.15.1-beta
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.3
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.12.5
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.2
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.15.0
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.17.5-beta
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.5
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.20.0
rsyslog Rsyslog=3.19.4

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Configuration

    Configure the $AllowedSender directive in the rsyslog configuration to explicitly list only trusted sender IP addresses or hostnames so that messages from other senders are rejected. After updating the configuration, reload or restart the rsyslog service to apply the change.

    SUSE Rsyslog $AllowedSender = Explicit list of trusted sender IP addresses or hostnames

Event History

Dec 17, 2008
CVE Published
via MITRE·02:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·02:00 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·02:30 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2008-5617?

CVE-2008-5617 has a moderate severity rating due to its ability to allow unauthorized log message spoofing.

2

How do I fix CVE-2008-5617?

To fix CVE-2008-5617, upgrade rsyslog to a version that is not affected, such as 4.2.0 or later.

3

What systems are affected by CVE-2008-5617?

CVE-2008-5617 affects rsyslog versions from 3.12.1 to 3.20.0, including versions 4.1.0 and 4.1.1.

4

What are the consequences of exploiting CVE-2008-5617?

Exploiting CVE-2008-5617 can lead to unauthorized log manipulations and flooding the log system with fake messages.

5

How can I determine if my rsyslog is vulnerable to CVE-2008-5617?

To determine if your rsyslog is vulnerable to CVE-2008-5617, check the version number against the affected versions listed in the CVE description.

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