CVE-2005-1196 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in kb.php in the Knowledge Base module for phpBB allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information and execute SQL commands via the cat parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1196 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the knowledge base module of phpbb version 2.0.10 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the kb.php script which handles category-based knowledge base queries. The flaw exists in the improper sanitization of user input parameters, particularly the cat parameter that is used to filter knowledge base articles by category. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious sql commands within the cat parameter, bypassing normal input validation mechanisms and directly interacting with the underlying database system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of user-supplied data in the sql query construction process. When the cat parameter is passed to kb.php without proper input filtering or parameterization, the application concatenates this input directly into sql statements. This practice violates fundamental security principles outlined in cwe-89 sql injection and represents a classic example of unsafe sql query construction. The vulnerability falls under the broader category of injection flaws as classified by the owasp top ten project and specifically aligns with attack techniques described in the mitre attack framework under the execution and credential access phases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass full database compromise capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information including user credentials, administrative data, and confidential knowledge base content. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands, potentially allowing for data manipulation, unauthorized access to administrative functions, and even system compromise through database-level attacks. This represents a severe threat to organizations relying on phpbb knowledge base functionality for sensitive information management.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-1196 should focus on immediate patching of the affected phpbb version to the latest secure release. Organizations must implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future deployments. The fix requires sanitizing all user inputs before incorporating them into sql queries and implementing proper database access controls. Security measures should include input filtering, output encoding, and the principle of least privilege for database accounts. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate injection vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of following established security frameworks such as those defined in the cwe dictionary and attack mitigation guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts targeting sql injection vulnerabilities.