CVE-2004-2240 in Phorum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Phorum 5.0.11 and earlier allow remote attackers to modify SQL statements via (1) the query string in read.php or (2) unknown vectors in file.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/25/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-2240 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Phorum versions 5.0.11 and earlier, which exposes web applications to unauthorized data manipulation and potential system compromise. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection vulnerabilities where untrusted input is improperly incorporated into SQL commands without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The flaw manifests in two distinct attack vectors within the Phorum application, creating multiple pathways for malicious actors to exploit the underlying database interface.
The technical exploitation occurs when attackers manipulate the query string parameters in the read.php script or leverage unknown attack vectors within file.php to inject malicious SQL commands into the database layer. These vulnerabilities arise from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the application's database interaction code. When user-supplied data is directly concatenated into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterized query construction, attackers can inject arbitrary SQL syntax that alters the intended database operation. The attack surface is particularly dangerous because it allows for modification of existing SQL statements rather than merely reading data, potentially enabling full database manipulation including data deletion, modification, or unauthorized access to sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it can lead to complete database compromise and unauthorized administrative access to the Phorum application. Attackers exploiting these vulnerabilities can potentially escalate privileges, extract confidential user information, modify forum content, or even gain access to underlying system resources depending on the database configuration and permissions. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the Phorum forum system, potentially compromising all user data, forum threads, and administrative configurations stored within the database. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized query construction throughout the Phorum codebase. Organizations should implement strict input sanitization measures that filter or escape all user-supplied data before incorporation into database queries, while also upgrading to Phorum versions that have addressed these specific vulnerabilities. The remediation process must include comprehensive code review to identify all potential injection points, implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries, and regular security testing to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future code modifications. Additionally, implementing proper database access controls and monitoring mechanisms can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while adhering to the principle of least privilege ensures that database accounts used by the application have minimal necessary permissions to reduce potential impact from successful attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and regular security updates in preventing database-related exploitation attempts that can lead to complete system compromise.