Cleartext storage of sensitive information in SimpleMachines SMF
Priority LOW 35CWE-312Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- High
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Information disclosure
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-312.
Summary
There is a file disclosure vulnerability in SMF (Simple Machines Forum) affecting versions through v2.0.3. On some configurations a SMF deployment is shared by several "co-admins" that are not trusted beyond the SMF deployment. This vulnerability allows them to read arbitrary files on the filesystem and therefore gain new privileges by reading the settings.php with the database passwords.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01732 77th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SimpleMachines | SMF | through 2.0.3 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- SMF VendorSimpleMachines Affected through 2.0.3 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:simplemachines:simple_machines_forum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 2.0.3 | Vulnerable | SimpleMachines |
- cpe:2.3:a:simplemachines:simple_machines_forum:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 2.0.3 Vulnerable ·SimpleMachines
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2009-5068
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-hw49-57p9-2mh2
References
More SimpleMachines Simple Machines Forum vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-41147 A stored cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Simple Machines Forum v2.1.6 allows… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.1
- TI-2024-06892 SimpleMachines SMF User Alert Read Status index.php resource injection CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2024-06891 SimpleMachines SMF Delete User index.php resource injection CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2025-02251 SimpleMachines SMF ManageNews.php cross site scripting CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.1
- TI-2025-02250 SimpleMachines SMF ManageAttachments.php cross site scripting CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.1
- TI-2016-04970 Packages.php in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 2.1 allows remote attackers to conduct PHP… CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
Sources
- CVE-2009-5068 · CVE Program
- CVE-2009-5068 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-hw49-57p9-2mh2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences