# CVE-2008-4437: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can read arbitrary files via path traversal in importxml.pl when attach_path is enabled, affecting Bugzilla installations.

- **Severity:** High 7.1 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/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:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Oct 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DTSA-170-1, GHSA-ph4j-q265-3h3m

## What is CVE-2008-4437?

CVE-2008-4437 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Mozilla Bugzilla, published on 3 Oct 2008. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in importxml.pl in Bugzilla before 2.22.5, and 3.x before 3.0.5, when --attach_path is enabled, allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via an XML file with a .. (dot dot) in the data element.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-4437?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mozilla Bugzilla.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-4437?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2008-4437 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-4437 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Bugzilla 3.1.4 - '--attach_path' Directory Traversal (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Mozilla Bugzilla

- [CVE-2004-0769](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-0769/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2003-1042](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1042/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2003-1043](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2003-1043/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2002-0007](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2002-0007/): Auth bypass in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2018-5123](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5123/): Cross-site request forgery in Bugzilla (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-4437 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-4437 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Mozilla Bugzilla, published on 3 Oct 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-2008-4437 exists.

Affected product: Mozilla Bugzilla. 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-2008-4437/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4437/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-4437
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-4437
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-4437

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-4437/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.