CVE-2005-0345 in php-fusion
Summary
by MITRE
viewthread.php in php-fusion 4.x does not check the (1) forum_id or (2) forum_cat parameters, which allows remote attackers to view protected forums via the thread_id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0345 affects php-fusion version 4.x and represents a critical access control flaw in the viewthread.php script. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and parameter verification within the forum viewing functionality, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to bypass security measures that should restrict access to protected forum content. The vulnerability specifically targets two critical parameters: forum_id and forum_cat, which are not properly validated before being processed by the application.
The technical flaw manifests in the lack of proper authorization checks when processing the thread_id parameter. When a user attempts to access a forum thread through viewthread.php, the system fails to verify whether the requesting user has legitimate access rights to the specified forum. This absence of validation allows attackers to manipulate the thread_id parameter and subsequently access protected forum categories and threads that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability operates at the application logic level, where the security controls are bypassed due to inadequate parameter sanitization and access validation mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to protected forum content without proper authentication. This breach compromises the confidentiality and integrity of forum data, potentially exposing sensitive discussions, user communications, and private information shared within protected forum sections. Attackers can exploit this weakness to view restricted content, potentially including personal information, internal communications, or other sensitive data that should remain accessible only to authorized community members. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the php-fusion forum system and undermines the trust users place in the platform's access controls.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software applications, and represents a classic example of insufficient access control validation. From an attack perspective, it maps to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access phases, where adversaries exploit application-level flaws to gain unauthorized access to restricted resources. The vulnerability demonstrates how parameter manipulation can lead to complete bypass of access controls, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that rely on user role-based access restrictions.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and parameter verification mechanisms within the viewthread.php script. The application must enforce strict authorization checks before allowing access to forum threads, ensuring that the forum_id and forum_cat parameters are properly validated against the user's access permissions. Implementing proper access control lists and session validation checks would prevent unauthorized access attempts. Additionally, developers should consider implementing logging mechanisms to detect and alert on suspicious access patterns that attempt to manipulate forum parameters. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar authorization flaws in other parts of the application, and input sanitization should be enforced throughout the entire application framework to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.