# CVE-2005-4891: SQL injection in Simple Machine Forum

> Remote attackers can inject arbitrary SQL statements into Simple Machine Forum, potentially reading or modifying database contents.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Jan 2020
- **Updated:** 8 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h7xj-hhqg-cp75

## What is CVE-2005-4891?

CVE-2005-4891 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Simple Machine Forum, published on 15 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Simple Machine Forum (SMF) versions 1.0.4 and earlier have an SQL injection vulnerability that allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary SQL statements.

Weakness: CWE-89 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2005-4891?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Simplemachines Simple Machine Forum.

## How do I fix CVE-2005-4891?

No fix has been published for CVE-2005-4891 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2005-4891 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2005-4891 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.0.4 - 'modify' SQL Injection (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Simple Machine Forum

- [CVE-2019-11574](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11574/): Server-side request forgery in n/a (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2005-4891 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2005-4891 is a critical SQL injection vulnerability in Simple Machine Forum, published on 15 Jan 2020. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2005-4891 exists.

Affected product: Simple Machine Forum. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4891/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4891/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2005-4891
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2005-4891
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2005-4891

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2005-4891/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.