# CVE-2008-6502: Path traversal in n/a

> Authenticated users can exploit path traversal to execute arbitrary PHP scripts via avatar parameters, leading to code execution or XSS.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.6 (`AV:N/AC:H/Au:S/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 20 Mar 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-836f-73cv-g67h

## What is CVE-2008-6502?

CVE-2008-6502 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Mar 2009. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in Pro Chat Rooms 3.0.2 allows remote authenticated users to select an arbitrary local PHP script as an avatar via a .. (dot dot) in the avatar parameter, and cause other users to execute this script by using sendData.php to send a message to (1) an individual user or (2) a room, leading to cross-site request forgery (CSRF), cross-site scripting (XSS), or other impacts.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-6502?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Prochatrooms Pro Chat Rooms.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-6502?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-6502 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-6502 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6502 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Pro Chat Rooms 3.0.2 - Cross-Site Scripting / Cross-Site Request Forgery (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2008-6501](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6501/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (medium 4.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-6502 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-6502 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 20 Mar 2009. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6502 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-2008-6502/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6502/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-6502
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6502
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-6502

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6502/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.