CVE-2002-0903 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
register.php for WoltLab Burning Board (wbboard) 1.1.1 uses a small number of random values for the "code" parameter that is provided to action.php to approve a new registration, along with predictable new user ID s, which allows remote attackers to hijack new user accounts via a brute force attack on the new user ID and the code value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0903 affects WoltLab Burning Board version 1.1.1, a web-based bulletin board system that was widely used for online community forums. This security flaw resides in the registration approval mechanism of the software, specifically within the register.php component that handles new user account creation. The issue stems from poor cryptographic practices in the generation of authentication tokens and user identifiers, creating a predictable pattern that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to newly created user accounts.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the use of insufficiently random values for the "code" parameter during the registration approval process. When a new user registers, the system generates a code value to validate the account approval process, but this code is derived from a limited random number generator that produces only a small set of possible values. Additionally, the system assigns new user IDs in a predictable sequence, making it possible for attackers to determine both the user ID and the corresponding approval code through systematic brute force attempts. This combination of predictable user ID assignment and weak randomization creates a significant security weakness that directly violates fundamental principles of secure authentication mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it allows remote attackers to hijack new user accounts without requiring any legitimate credentials or prior access to the system. Attackers can systematically guess user IDs and corresponding approval codes to gain control over newly registered accounts, potentially leading to unauthorized access to user data, posting of malicious content, or use of compromised accounts for further attacks. This vulnerability particularly affects the integrity and confidentiality of user information, as attackers can assume the identity of legitimate users and access their private messages, profile information, and other account-specific data. The attack surface is further expanded as compromised accounts can be used to post spam, conduct phishing attacks, or serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks within the forum ecosystem.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-330, which addresses the use of insufficiently random values, and represents a classic example of weak entropy in cryptographic implementations. From an attacker perspective, this flaw maps to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under initial access and credential access phases, particularly the use of brute force attacks and credential dumping. The weakness demonstrates poor implementation of secure random number generation and predictable sequence generation, which are fundamental requirements for authentication systems. Organizations should implement proper random number generation using cryptographically secure algorithms, ensure user ID assignment uses unpredictable sequences, and implement rate limiting or account lockout mechanisms to prevent automated brute force attempts. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of following security best practices for authentication token generation and the necessity of regular security audits of legacy systems to identify and remediate similar weaknesses that could be exploited by modern attack vectors.