CVE-2005-1287 in BK Forum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in BK Forum 4.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) id parameter to member.asp, (2) forum parameter to forum.asp, or (3) various parameters in register.asp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1287 represents a critical security flaw in BK Forum 4.0, a web-based discussion platform that was widely deployed in 2005. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the application's handling of user-supplied data, creating multiple entry points for malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands into the backend database system. The vulnerability affects three distinct script files within the forum application, each presenting unique attack vectors that collectively demonstrate poor security design principles and insufficient sanitization of user inputs. The affected parameters include the id parameter in member.asp, the forum parameter in forum.asp, and various parameters within the register.asp file, all of which process user input without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through SQL injection attacks that leverage the absence of input sanitization in the web application's backend processing logic. When users provide malicious input through the specified parameters, the application fails to properly escape or validate these inputs before incorporating them into SQL queries executed against the database. This allows attackers to manipulate the intended database operations by injecting additional SQL commands that can execute with the privileges of the web application's database user account. The vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database, and represents a fundamental failure in secure coding practices that violates the principle of least privilege and input validation. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate their privileges within the system depending on the database user's permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-1287 extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with persistent access to the forum's database infrastructure and can enable further compromise of the underlying system. Remote attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities without requiring authentication, making the attack surface particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. The consequences include unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, forum content, and potentially sensitive administrative data stored within the database. Depending on the database configuration, attackers might be able to execute system commands, access other databases, or even gain shell access to the server hosting the forum application. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to the organization's reputation and compliance requirements, as it could lead to data breaches that violate privacy regulations and industry standards such as those outlined in the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard or the General Data Protection Regulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding mechanisms across all affected scripts within the BK Forum 4.0 application. The primary defense involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL code from user input, effectively neutralizing the injection attack vectors. Additionally, input sanitization should be enforced at multiple levels including application-level validation, database-level escaping, and proper error handling that prevents information leakage. Organizations should implement web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, while also conducting regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications. The remediation process should include thorough code reviews focusing on data handling practices, implementation of proper access controls, and establishment of secure coding guidelines that align with industry best practices such as those recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project. Regular security updates and patches should be applied to ensure that the application remains protected against evolving threats, while also considering the migration to more modern forum solutions that incorporate robust security features by default.