# CVE-2008-5204: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary local files via directory traversal in the lang parameter when register_globals is enabled.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.8 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 21 Nov 2008
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4g9r-j6c2-xff9

## What is CVE-2008-5204?

CVE-2008-5204 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 21 Nov 2008. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in PowerAward 1.1.0 RC1, when register_globals is enabled, allow remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary local files via directory traversal sequences in the lang parameter to (1) agb.php, (2) angemeldet.php, (3) anmelden.php, (4) charts.php, (5) external_vote.php, (6) guestbook.php, (7) impressum.php, (8) index.php, (9) rss-reader.php, (10) statistic.php, (11) teilnehmer.php, (12) topsites.php, (13) votecode.php, (14) voting.php, and (15) winner.php.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-5204?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Poweraward Poweraward.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-5204?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-5204 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-5204 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-5204 exists.

Public exploit code:

- poweraward 1.1.0 rc1 - Local File Inclusion / Cross-Site Scripting (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2008-5203](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5203/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-5204 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-5204 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 21 Nov 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-2008-5204 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-2008-5204/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5204/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-5204
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-5204
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-5204

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-5204/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.