CVE-2008-6540: Medium severity DotNetNuke DotNetNuke vulnerability

Published Mar 30, 2009
·
Updated

DotNetNuke before 4.8.2, during installation or upgrade, does not warn the administrator when the default (1) ValidationKey and (2) DecryptionKey values cannot be modified in the web.config file, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions by using the default keys.

Affected Software

35 affected componentsFixes available
nuget/DotNetNuke.Core<4.8.2
4.8.2
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=2.1.1
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=1.0.10e
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=1.0.10d
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=1.0.7
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=4.5.2
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=1.0.8
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=1.0.6
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=1.0.9
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=3.0.8
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=4.3.5
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=2.1.2
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=4.0
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke<=4.8.1
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=3.0.11
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=3.0.7
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=3.3.5
DotNetNuke DotNetNuke=3.1.0
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke<=4.8.1
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=1.0.6
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=1.0.7
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=1.0.8
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=1.0.9
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=1.0.10d
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=1.0.10e
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=2.1.1
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=2.1.2
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=3.0.7
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=3.0.8
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=3.0.11
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=3.1.0
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=3.3.5
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=4.0
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=4.3.5
dnnsoftware Dotnetnuke=4.5.2

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade nuget/DotNetNuke.Core to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 4.8.2
  2. Configuration

    Edit the application's web.config and replace the default ValidationKey and DecryptionKey entries with unique, non-default keys (do not use the shipped/default keys).

    web.config ValidationKey, DecryptionKey = replace default keys with unique non-default values

Event History

Mar 30, 2009
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:00 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:30 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
May 14, 2022
Advisory Published
02:38 AM
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2008-6540?

CVE-2008-6540 is considered to have a high severity level due to the potential for unauthorized access by attackers.

2

How do I fix CVE-2008-6540?

To fix CVE-2008-6540, ensure that the ValidationKey and DecryptionKey in the web.config file are modified from their default values.

3

Who is affected by CVE-2008-6540?

CVE-2008-6540 affects various versions of DotNetNuke prior to 4.8.2, including early releases such as 1.0.x and 4.5.2.

4

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2008-6540?

CVE-2008-6540 is a security vulnerability that allows remote attackers to bypass access restrictions due to insecure default keys.

5

When was CVE-2008-6540 reported?

CVE-2008-6540 was reported in 2008, specifically before the release of DotNetNuke version 4.8.2.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203