CVE-2008-0952
Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.
NVD · uneditedThe AppendStringToFile function in the HPISDataManagerLib.Datamgr ActiveX control in HPISDataManager.dll in HP Instant Support before 1.0.0.24 allows remote attackers to create files with arbitrary content via a full pathname in the first argument and the content in the second argument, a different vulnerability than CVE-2007-5608 and CVE-2008-0953.
Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.
dbcve analysis · high confidenceArbitrary file write vulnerability in HP Instant Support's HPISDataManagerLib.Datamgr ActiveX control (HPISDataManager.dll). The AppendStringToFile function allows remote attackers to write arbitrary content to any file path specified via the first argument, enabling code execution or system compromise.
Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.
Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.
NVD · CPE data<= 1.0.0.23CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.
From the vector- Attack vector
- Network
- Complexity
- M
- Authentication
- None
- Confidentiality
- Complete
- Integrity
- Complete
- Availability
- Complete
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.
dbcve checksWork through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.
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Check if HP Instant Support is installedLook in Add/Remove Programs (Windows) or check common install paths like C:\Program Files\HP\Instant Support\ or C:\Program Files (x86)\HP\Instant Support\ for the HPISDataManager.dll file.Affected if The HPISDataManager.dll file exists in the HP Instant Support directory.
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Verify the installed version of HP Instant SupportOpen Add/Remove Programs, find HP Instant Support, and note the version shown. Alternatively, right-click HPISDataManager.dll in the install directory, select Properties, and check the Version tab for the File Version.Affected if The installed version is 1.0.0.23 or earlier.
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Confirm the vulnerable ActiveX control is registeredOpen the Windows Registry and search for the CLSID {09F1B7C5-1A7D-4F32-A7D2-7F9C3B8F5E9D} (or search for 'HPISDataManagerLib' under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID). If the control is registered, it will appear under the CLSID key.Affected if The HPISDataManagerLib.Datamgr control appears in the Windows registry.
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Check if the ActiveX control is marked safe for scriptingIn the Windows Registry, navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{CLSID}\Implemented Categories\{7DD95801-9882-11CF-9FA9-00AA006C42C4} (or the Scriptable category). The presence of this key indicates the control is marked safe for scripting in Internet Explorer.Affected if The control is registered and marked as safe for scripting in the registry.
A system is affected if HP Instant Support version 1.0.0.23 or earlier is installed with the HPISDataManagerLib.Datamgr ActiveX control registered and enabled.
Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.
Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.
dbcve · scopedUpgrade HP Instant Support to version 1.0.0.24 or later, or disable the vulnerable HPISDataManagerLib.Datamgr ActiveX control via browser security settings or group policy to prevent exploitation.
HP Instant Support 1.0.0.24 or later
- Navigate to HP's official support website and search for HP Instant Support
- Download HP Instant Support version 1.0.0.24 or later
- Uninstall the current version of HP Instant Support from the system
- Install the downloaded fixed version (1.0.0.24 or later)
- Restart the system if prompted
- Verify the installed version is 1.0.0.24 or higher
Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.
- Consultation3.0 h
- Implementation4.0 h
- Testing2.0 h
- Review / QA1.0 h
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Scan for this in your stack
Free · runs locallyCheck whether your project pulls in CVE-2008-0952 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.
References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.
Primary sourcesPractitioner notes
ContributedPeer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2008-0952 in production — separate from our analysis above.
The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.
- The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
- A config change or rule that shut the vector down
- A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon
No notes yet
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- Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
- Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
- No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
- No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data