# CVE-2008-1270: Information disclosure in n/a

> Remote attackers can read arbitrary files via the mod_userdir module when userdir.path is not explicitly configured.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Mar 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2008-1270, DSA-1521-1, GHSA-r872-9mqq-9xpp

## What is CVE-2008-1270?

CVE-2008-1270 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 10 Mar 2008. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

mod_userdir in lighttpd 1.4.18 and earlier, when userdir.path is not set, uses a default of $HOME, which might allow remote attackers to read arbitrary files, as demonstrated by accessing the ~nobody directory.

Weakness: CWE-200 (Exposure of Sensitive Information to an Unauthorized Actor)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-1270?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Lighttpd Lighttpd.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-1270?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-1270 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-1270 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Lighttpd 1.4.x - mod_userdir Information Disclosure (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2019-11072](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11072/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2007-3949](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-3949/): Security feature bypass in n/a (high 8.3)
- [CVE-2007-1870](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-1870/): Null dereference in n/a (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2022-30780](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-30780/): Denial of service in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2025-12642](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-12642/): HTTP Header Smuggling via Trailer Merge (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-1270 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-1270 is a medium-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 10 Mar 2008. 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-2008-1270 exists.

Affected product: n/a. 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-2008-1270/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1270/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-1270
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-1270
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-1270

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1270/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.