CVE-2005-0569 in PunBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PunBB 1.2.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) language parameter to register.php, (2) change email feature in profile.php, (3) posts or (4) topics parameter to moderate.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0569 represents a critical security flaw in PunBB version 1.2.1, a popular open-source bulletin board system that was widely deployed in web environments during that era. This vulnerability manifests as multiple SQL injection opportunities that collectively undermine the application's database security and enable unauthorized remote code execution. The flaw specifically affects the application's input validation mechanisms, where user-supplied data is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization, creating exploitable pathways for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability spans across four distinct entry points within the PunBB application, each presenting unique attack vectors that collectively amplify the overall risk. The first vulnerability occurs in the language parameter of register.php, where an attacker can inject malicious SQL code during user registration processes. The second vulnerability exists in the profile.php file's change email functionality, allowing attackers to manipulate email addresses through SQL injection. The third and fourth vulnerabilities are found in moderate.php, affecting both the posts and topics parameters, which enable attackers to manipulate forum moderation functions through direct SQL command injection. These vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and align with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploitation of remote services through SQL injection attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-0569 is severe and multifaceted, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user account. This capability enables full database compromise, including data exfiltration, modification of user credentials, deletion of forum content, and potentially system-wide compromise if the database user has elevated privileges. Attackers could leverage these vulnerabilities to gain persistent access to forum data, manipulate user accounts, or even escalate privileges to system-level access depending on the database configuration and permissions. The remote nature of these vulnerabilities means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making the exploitation accessible from anywhere on the internet and significantly increasing the attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout all affected application components, ensuring that user-supplied data cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. Organizations should apply the official patches released by PunBB developers or upgrade to supported versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. The remediation process should also include comprehensive code review of all user input handling mechanisms to identify and address similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, following security best practices outlined in OWASP Top Ten and NIST guidelines for secure coding practices.