CVE-2002-1505 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in board.php for WoltLab Burning Board (wBB) 2.0 RC 1 and earlier allows remote attackers to modify the database and possibly gain privileges via the boardid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2025
The SQL injection vulnerability identified in CVE-2002-1505 affects WoltLab Burning Board version 2.0 RC 1 and earlier implementations, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of web applications relying on this bulletin board software. This vulnerability specifically targets the board.php script where user input is improperly validated and directly incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization mechanisms. The affected parameter boardid serves as the primary attack vector, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that can manipulate the underlying database structure and potentially escalate their privileges within the system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter handling within the WoltLab Burning Board application framework. When the boardid parameter is submitted through user requests, the application fails to properly escape or filter special characters that could alter the intended SQL query structure. This lack of proper sanitization enables attackers to craft malicious inputs that bypass normal authentication mechanisms and execute unauthorized database operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection flaws as weaknesses that occur when user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform data manipulation, unauthorized access, and potentially gain elevated privileges within the application's database environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data corruption or unauthorized access to encompass potential privilege escalation and complete system compromise. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary SQL commands that may allow them to extract sensitive information from the database, modify existing records, create new user accounts with administrative privileges, or even delete critical application data. The implications are particularly severe for bulletin board systems that store user credentials, private messages, and other sensitive information, as successful exploitation could result in widespread data breaches and unauthorized system control. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which describes the use of SQL injection to gain access to databases and manipulate data through application interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-1505 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in the future. Organizations should immediately upgrade to WoltLab Burning Board versions that have addressed this vulnerability, as the affected software versions are no longer supported and lack security patches. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries should become standard practice for all database interactions within the application. The use of prepared statements and proper escaping mechanisms can effectively prevent SQL injection attacks by ensuring that user input cannot alter the structure of intended SQL queries. Security measures should also include regular vulnerability assessments, input sanitization routines, and comprehensive logging of database access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring systems to provide additional layers of protection against similar injection attacks that may target other components of the application stack.