CVE-2004-2350 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in search.php for phpBB 1.0 through 2.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL and gain privileges via the search_results parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-2350 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the phpBB bulletin board system affecting versions 1.0 through 2.0.6. This vulnerability resides in the search.php script which processes user input for search functionality, creating an attack vector that enables remote exploitation without authentication requirements. The flaw specifically manifests when the search_results parameter is manipulated by an attacker, allowing malicious sql commands to be executed within the database context of the vulnerable application.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the phpBB codebase. When users submit search queries through the search_results parameter, the application fails to properly escape or filter special sql characters and commands. This lack of proper input sanitization creates a direct path for attackers to inject malicious sql payloads that bypass normal authentication mechanisms and database access controls. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and directly impacts the backend database operations, making it particularly dangerous for systems that rely on phpBB for community forums and user management.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including unauthorized database access, data extraction, privilege escalation, and potential system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to retrieve sensitive user information such as passwords, personal details, and administrative credentials stored within the phpBB database. The vulnerability also allows for privilege escalation attacks where unauthenticated users could potentially gain administrative access to the forum system. Additionally, the attacker could modify or delete forum content, manipulate user accounts, and potentially use the compromised system as a launchpad for further attacks against the broader network infrastructure.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with common weakness enumerations such as CWE-89 sql injection and CWE-20 improper input validation, both of which are fundamental concerns in web application security. The attack pattern follows typical exploit methodologies documented in the mitre attack framework, specifically relating to privilege escalation and credential theft through application layer vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to the latest phpBB versions, input validation enforcement, and database access control restrictions. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization and the potential consequences of inadequate security measures in widely deployed open source applications.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of affected phpBB installations to versions that contain proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. System administrators should also implement web application firewalls and input validation rules to prevent malicious sql injection attempts. Database access should be restricted to minimal required privileges for the phpBB application, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the web application stack. Additionally, monitoring and logging of database access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts and provide forensic evidence for security incident response activities.