# CVE-2008-6508: Path traversal in n/a

> Remote attackers can bypass authentication and access the admin interface via directory traversal in the AuthCheck filter.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/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:** 23 Mar 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-h2pj-vj4x-w4fp

## What is CVE-2008-6508?

CVE-2008-6508 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Mar 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in the AuthCheck filter in the Admin Console in Openfire 3.6.0a and earlier allows remote attackers to bypass authentication and access the admin interface via a .. (dot dot) in a URI that matches the Exclude-Strings list, as demonstrated by a /setup/setup-/.. sequence in a URI.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-6508?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Igniterealtime Openfire.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-6508?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-6508 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-6508 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6508 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Openfire Server 3.6.0a - Authentication Bypass / SQL Injection / Cross-Site Scripting (exploitdb)
- Openfire Admin Console Authentication Bypass (metasploit)
- Openfire Server 3.6.0a - Admin Console Authentication Bypass (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2023-32315](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-32315/): Ignite Realtime Openfire Path Traversal (high 8.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-25421](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-25421/): Ignite Realtime Openfire privilege escalation vulnerability (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-45967](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-45967/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-18394](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-18394/): Ignite Realtime Openfire vulnerable to Server Side Request Forgery (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2014-2741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-2741/): Ignite Realtime Openfire vulnerable to XMPPbomb attack (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-6508 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-6508 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 23 Mar 2009. 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-2008-6508 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-2008-6508/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6508/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-6508
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6508
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-6508

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6508/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.