CVE-2008-5597: Cold BBS stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote

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MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2008-5597 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting cold bbs. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Cold BBS stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download the database file via a direct request for db/cforum.mdb.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	2.6% (top 15%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-264
Published	2008-12-16
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: cold bbs

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2008-12-16 19:07 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 23:00 UTCUpdated Record last modified

cold bbs cold bbs DOWNGRADE

Affected: _nil_

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before _nil_

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy cold-bbs || rpm -q cold-bbs || cold-bbs --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before _nil_ (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison cold-bbs sudo apt install cold-bbs=<VERSION_BEFORE__nil_> sudo apt-mark hold cold-bbs

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list cold-bbs sudo dnf downgrade cold-bbs-<VERSION_BEFORE__nil_> sudo dnf versionlock add cold-bbs

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Cold BBS - Remote Database Disclosure

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2008-5597?

cold bbs: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2008-5597 being exploited?

CVE-2008-5597 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2008-5597 affect?

CVE-2008-5597 affects cold bbs. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Cold BBS stores sensitive information under the web root with insufficient access control, which allows remote attackers to download the database file via a direct request for db/cforum.mdb.

How urgent is CVE-2008-5597?

Priority 44/100. Public exploit reference

References

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