# CVE-2008-6971: Weak cryptography in n/a

> Predictable password reset codes allow remote attackers to take over user accounts and gain privileges in Simple Machines Forum.

- **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:** 13 Aug 2009
- **Updated:** 7 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-875w-x894-8p6c

## What is CVE-2008-6971?

CVE-2008-6971 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 13 Aug 2009. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

The password reset functionality in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.0.x before 1.0.14, 1.1.x before 1.1.6, and 2.0 before 2.0 beta 4 includes clues about the random number generator state within a hidden form field and generates predictable validation codes, which allows remote attackers to modify passwords of other users and gain privileges.

Weakness: CWE-255

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2008-6971?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Simplemachines Smf.

## How do I fix CVE-2008-6971?

No fix has been published for CVE-2008-6971 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2008-6971 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2008-6971 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 1.1.5 (Windows x86) - Admin Reset Password (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in n/a

- [CVE-2011-1127](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1127/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2011-3615](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3615/): SQL injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2011-1128](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1128/): Auth bypass in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2011-1130](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-1130/): SQL injection in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2011-4173](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-4173/): Cross-site request forgery in n/a (medium 6.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2008-6971 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2008-6971 is a high-severity vulnerability in n/a, published on 13 Aug 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-2008-6971 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-2008-6971/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6971/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2008-6971
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2008-6971
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2008-6971

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-6971/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.