CVE-2002-1660 in vBulletin
Summary
by MITRE
calendar.php in vBulletin before 2.2.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via shell metacharacters in the command parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1660 represents a critical command injection flaw within the vBulletin forum software version 2.2.0 and earlier. This security weakness exists in the calendar.php script which processes user input without proper sanitization, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute arbitrary system commands on the affected server. The vulnerability specifically targets the command parameter where shell metacharacters are not adequately filtered or escaped, allowing malicious actors to inject operating system commands directly into the application's execution flow.
This flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-77 which specifically addresses Command Injection vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the lack of input validation in the calendar.php script where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into system command execution contexts. When an attacker submits malicious shell metacharacters through the command parameter, these characters are interpreted by the underlying operating system as command syntax rather than data, enabling unauthorized execution of arbitrary commands with the privileges of the web application process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across the cybersecurity landscape. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to gain full control over the affected server, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and establishment of persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects organizations running vBulletin versions prior to 2.2.0, making it particularly dangerous as many legacy systems may not have been updated or patched. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, where adversaries execute malicious commands through compromised web applications, and T1078.004 for Valid Accounts, as attackers may use compromised web server accounts to escalate privileges and maintain access to the compromised system.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should immediately implement comprehensive mitigations including updating to vBulletin version 2.2.0 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. The patch addresses the core issue by implementing proper input validation and sanitization for the command parameter, ensuring that shell metacharacters are properly escaped or filtered before being processed. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious command injection attempts, while system administrators should review and restrict file permissions for the web application directories. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and the principle of least privilege in web application security, as proper sanitization of user inputs prevents the exploitation of command injection vulnerabilities that can lead to complete system compromise.