# CVE-2008-6308: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary files via directory traversal in the PunBB Private Messaging System plugin, requiring low privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.1 (`AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **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:** 27 Feb 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w788-qj5x-7qf6

## What is CVE-2008-6308?

CVE-2008-6308 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 27 Feb 2009. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Multiple directory traversal vulnerabilities in Private Messaging System (PMS) 1.2.3 and earlier for PunBB allow remote attackers to include and execute arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the pun_user[language] parameter to (1) functions_navlinks.php, (2) header_new_messages.php, (3) profile_send.php, and (4) viewtopic_PM-link.php in include/pms/.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-6308?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Punbb Private Messaging System.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-6308?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-6308 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-6308 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6308 exists.

Public exploit code:

- PunBB (Private Messaging System 1.2.x) - Multiple Local File Inclusions (exploitdb)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-6308 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-6308 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 27 Feb 2009. 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-2008-6308 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-2008-6308/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6308/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-6308
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6308
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-6308

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6308/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.