Is CVE-2009-0331 actively exploited?

A proof-of-concept exploit is publicly available for CVE-2009-0331, but active exploitation has not been confirmed.

Can CVE-2009-0331 be exploited remotely?

Yes. CVE-2009-0331 is exploitable remotely over the network (CVSS attack vector: Network).

What is the CVSS score of CVE-2009-0331?

CVE-2009-0331 has a CVSS score of 7.8 (HIGH).

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HIGHPOC

CVE-2009-0331

CWE-22Published: January 29, 2009· Updated: Jun 16, 2026

7.8

CVSS v3.1

Official Description

Directory traversal vulnerability in gallery/comment.php in Enhanced Simple PHP Gallery (ESPG) 1.72 allows remote attackers to read arbitrary files via a .. (dot dot) in the file parameter. NOTE: the vulnerability may be in my little homepage Comment script. If so, then this should not be treated as a vulnerability in ESPG.

NVD Source

Technical Analysis

CVE-2009-0331 can be exploited remotely over the network without requiring physical or adjacent access, significantly expanding the attack surface for threat actors.

Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.

A proof-of-concept (PoC) exploit exists for CVE-2009-0331. While not yet confirmed in active campaigns, the availability of PoC code increases exploitation risk substantially.