CVE-2002-0108 in Forums
Summary
by MITRE
Allaire Forums 2.0.4 and 2.0.5 and Forums! 3.0 and 3.1 allows remote authenticated users to spoof messages as other users by modifying the hidden form fields for the name and e-mail address.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0108 represents a significant security flaw in Allaire Forums versions 2.0.4 through 2.0.5 and Forums! 3.0 through 3.1 that enables authenticated remote attackers to forge messages by manipulating hidden form fields. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and improper sanitization of user-supplied data within the web application's message submission mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the hidden form fields that typically store user identification information such as name and email address, which are expected to remain unchanged during the message posting process but can be modified by malicious actors.
This vulnerability operates under the principle of insecure input handling and demonstrates a classic case of insufficient validation of user-provided data within web applications. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the hidden form fields that contain user identity information, effectively enabling them to submit messages that appear to originate from other users. The attack vector requires the adversary to be authenticated to the system, meaning they must have valid credentials to access the forums, but once authenticated, they can exploit this weakness to impersonate other users. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of user impersonation and identity spoofing within web applications, which can severely compromise the integrity of communication channels and user trust in the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple message spoofing, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as social engineering campaigns, reputation damage, and the dissemination of malicious content under false identities. Attackers can exploit this weakness to post inflammatory or inappropriate messages as other users, leading to potential harassment, defamation, or the spread of misinformation. The vulnerability also undermines the authentication and authorization mechanisms that should protect user identities and ensure that only legitimate users can post content under their own names. From a security perspective, this flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's integrity controls and can lead to cascading effects where compromised user identities are used to further attack other system components or users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and relates to the broader category of insecure data handling within web applications. The flaw demonstrates poor security practices in form field management and highlights the importance of server-side validation of all user inputs regardless of their source. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization, validate all form fields on the server side, and ensure that user identity information cannot be modified through client-side manipulation. The vulnerability also connects to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering through spoofed messages, emphasizing the broader implications of identity spoofing in cybersecurity contexts. Mitigation strategies should include implementing robust server-side validation of form fields, using secure session management, implementing proper access controls, and ensuring that all user identity information is validated and verified before processing any submitted content. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and to ensure that input validation mechanisms are properly implemented across all web forms and user interaction points.