# CVE-2008-2666: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can bypass safe_mode restrictions via directory traversal in chdir or ftok functions, potentially accessing restricted files.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Jun 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h2vh-q3r8-9vv4

## What is CVE-2008-2666?

CVE-2008-2666 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Php Php, published on 20 Jun 2008. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in PHP 5.2.6 and earlier allow context-dependent attackers to bypass safe_mode restrictions by creating a subdirectory named http: and then placing ../ (dot dot slash) sequences in an http URL argument to the (1) chdir or (2) ftok function.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-2666?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Php Php.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-2666?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-2666 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-2666 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-2666 exists.

Public exploit code:

- PHP 5.2.6 - 'chdir()' Function http URL Argument Safe_mode Restriction Bypass (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Php Php

- [CVE-2012-2688](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2688/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2012-2376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2376/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3268](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3268/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2009-4143](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-4143/): Other in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2008-5557](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5557/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-2666 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-2666 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in Php Php, published on 20 Jun 2008. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-2666 exists.

Affected product: Php Php. 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-2008-2666/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2666/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-2666
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-2666
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-2666

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-2666/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.