# CVE-2008-6658: Path traversal in n/a

> Authenticated administrators can exploit a directory traversal flaw to install packages from arbitrary directories, potentially leading to remote code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.0 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:N/I:P/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** An administrator
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 7 Apr 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4j9j-5w9g-5f4f

## What is CVE-2008-6658?

CVE-2008-6658 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Apr 2009. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Directory traversal vulnerability in index.php in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.0 before 1.0.15 and 1.1 before 1.1.7 allows remote authenticated administrators to install packages from arbitrary directories via a .. (dot dot) in the package parameter during an install2 action, as demonstrated by a predictable package filename in attachments/ that was uploaded through a post2 action to index.php.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-6658?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Simple Machines Simple Machines Forum.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-6658?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-6658 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-6658 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6658 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.1.6 - Code Execution (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2008-6741](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6741/): SQL injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2008-6544](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6544/): Code injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2008-3072](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3072/): Weak cryptography in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2008-3073](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-3073/): Cross-site scripting in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2007-3308](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2007-3308/): Security feature bypass in n/a (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-6658 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-6658 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Apr 2009. An attacker needs administrator access to exploit it, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6658 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-2008-6658/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6658/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-6658
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6658
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-6658

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6658/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.