LiveActive security incident?Get immediate response
CVE Record

CVE-2008-4796: The _httpsrequest function (Snoopy/Snoopy.class.php) in Snoopy 1.2.3 and earlier, as used in (1) ampache, (...

The _httpsrequest function (Snoopy/Snoopy.class.php) in Snoopy 1.2.3 and earlier, as used in (1) ampache, (2) libphp-snoopy, (3) mahara, (4) mediamate, (5) opendb, (6) pixelpost, and possibly other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in https URLs.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Discuss exposureBack to CVEs
Glexia's Takehigh

Analyst readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2008-4796 is a legacy remote command execution issue in the Snoopy PHP library. If an exposed application lets an attacker supply HTTPS URLs processed by vulnerable Snoopy versions, the server could run unintended commands. The source bundle gives no CVSS score.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority legacy exposure check, especially for internet-facing PHP systems. The business urgency is highest where old applications perform server-side URL fetching from user input. Lack of CVSS should not reduce attention because the described impact is command execution.

Technical view

The issue is in Snoopy/Snoopy.class.php _httpsrequest in Snoopy 1.2.3 and earlier. Shell metacharacters in HTTPS URLs can reach command execution behavior. The CVE lists several products using Snoopy and says other products may also be affected.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in old PHP applications or distribution packages embedding Snoopy 1.2.3 or earlier, including the products named in the CVE record. Risk depends on whether untrusted users can influence URLs passed to Snoopy HTTPS request handling.

Exploitation context

The provided bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Public advisories and mailing-list records indicate the vulnerability was publicly discussed in 2008, so defenders should assume technical details may be widely known.

Researcher notes

The bundle’s affected list is broad but imprecise: the CVE names several products and says possibly others. Validate by finding actual Snoopy code paths and whether attacker-controlled HTTPS URLs reach _httpsrequest. Do not assume every named product instance is exploitable without that path.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory applications and packages that include Snoopy or libphp-snoopy.
  • Prioritize systems accepting user-controlled URLs for server-side fetching.
  • Apply vendor or distribution updates referenced by Debian, Gentoo, JVN, or project maintainers.
  • If updates are unavailable, remove vulnerable Snoopy usage or restrict untrusted URL input.
  • Review legacy bundled libraries inside PHP applications, not only package manager dependencies.

Validation and detection

  • Search code and dependencies for Snoopy.class.php and Snoopy version references.
  • Identify call paths where users can influence HTTPS URLs fetched by Snoopy.
  • Confirm installed OS packages against Debian or Gentoo advisory-fixed versions where applicable.
  • Review web logs for suspicious URL input patterns without replaying payloads.
  • Document affected applications, reachable routes, owner, and remediation status.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
8

Public sources used

Based on public source material and reviewed before publication.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2008-4796 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

Open ATT&CK lookup
Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
14Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/an/an/aListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.