# CVE-2008-5090: Code injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary PHP code via embedded bbcode in the email parameter, compromising the Advanced Electron Forum web application.

- **Severity:** Critical 10.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **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:** 14 Nov 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-359q-vfg7-7chr

## What is CVE-2008-5090?

CVE-2008-5090 is a critical code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Nov 2008. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Electron Inc. Advanced Electron Forum before 1.0.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary PHP code via PHP code embedded in bbcode in the email parameter, which is processed by the preg_replace function with the eval switch.

Weakness: CWE-94 (Improper Control of Generation of Code)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-5090?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Anelectron Advanced Electron Forum.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-5090?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-5090 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-5090 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5090 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Advanced Electron Forum 1.0.6 - Remote Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2009-2545](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2545/): SQL injection in n/a (medium 6.8)
- [CVE-2011-3700](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3700/): Information disclosure in n/a (medium 5.0)
- [CVE-2018-13000](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-13000/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.8)
- [CVE-2009-2546](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-2546/): Path traversal in n/a (medium 4.3)
- [CVE-2008-1983](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-1983/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-5090 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-5090 is a critical code injection vulnerability in n/a, published on 14 Nov 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-2008-5090 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-2008-5090/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5090/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5090
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5090
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-5090

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5090/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.