# CVE-2024-7438: SimpleMachines SMF User Alert Read Status index.php resource injection

> Attackers can manipulate resource identifiers in the user alert read status handler to modify data, requiring authentication.

- **Severity:** Medium 5.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:L/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA: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:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 10 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4r4m-v89p-5c69

## What is CVE-2024-7438?

CVE-2024-7438 is a medium-severity vulnerability in SimpleMachines SMF, published on 3 Aug 2024. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability has been found in SimpleMachines SMF 2.1.4 and classified as problematic. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file /index.php?action=profile;u=2;area=showalerts;do=read of the component User Alert Read Status Handler. The manipulation of the argument aid leads to improper control of resource identifiers. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.

Weakness: CWE-639 (Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key), CWE-99 (Improper Control of Resource Identifiers)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-7438?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Simplemachines Simple Machines Forum.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-7438?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-7438 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-7438 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-7438 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in SimpleMachines SMF

- [CVE-2018-10305](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-10305/): Missing authorization in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-5726](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5726/): Code injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2013-7466](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-7466/): Path traversal in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2016-5727](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-5727/): Code injection in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2013-7468](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-7468/): Code injection in n/a (high 8.1)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-7438 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-7438 is a medium-severity vulnerability in SimpleMachines SMF, published on 3 Aug 2024. 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-2024-7438 exists.

Affected product: SimpleMachines SMF. 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-2024-7438/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7438/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-7438
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-7438
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-7438

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7438/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.