# CVE-2008-6659: Path traversal in n/a

> Authenticated users can exploit directory traversal in SMF to execute arbitrary local files, leading to remote code execution.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:N`)
- **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:** 7 Apr 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-83c4-4r4h-g94x

## What is CVE-2008-6659?

CVE-2008-6659 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Apr 2009. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, 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 users to configure arbitrary local files for execution via directory traversal sequences in the value of the theme_dir field during a jsoption action, related to Sources/QueryString.php and Sources/Themes.php, as demonstrated by a local .gif file in attachments/ with PHP code that was uploaded through a profile2 action to index.php.

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

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-6659?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Simple Machines Simple Machines Forum.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-6659?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-6659 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-6659 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6659 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.1.6 - Local File Inclusion / 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-2008-6659 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-6659 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in n/a, published on 7 Apr 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-2008-6659 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-2008-6659/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6659/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-6659
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6659
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-6659

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6659/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.