CVE-2005-1811 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in usercp.php for MyBulletinBoard (MyBB) allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the website field in a user profile.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1811 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MyBulletinBoard forum software, specifically affecting the usercp.php script. This issue resides in the user profile management functionality where the website field parameter is not properly sanitized before being rendered back to users. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-79 as an improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web applications through client-side code injection.
MyBulletinBoard version 1.0.2 and earlier releases contain this flaw in their user control panel implementation where user-submitted data from the website field is directly incorporated into HTML output without adequate validation or encoding. Attackers can craft malicious payloads that when executed in a victim's browser context can perform unauthorized actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or defacing the forum interface. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects the core user profile functionality that is frequently accessed and modified by forum members, creating multiple potential attack vectors for exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection as it can enable sophisticated attacks leveraging the ATT&CK framework's T1531 technique for account compromise through credential theft. When users visit affected profiles, their browsers execute the injected malicious code, potentially leading to complete session hijacking or data exfiltration. The vulnerability's persistence is enhanced by the fact that once a malicious script is injected into a user profile, it remains active until manually removed by administrators, allowing attackers to maintain long-term access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of input validation and output encoding measures. Administrators should implement strict sanitization of all user-submitted content in profile fields, particularly those that are rendered as HTML. The recommended approach involves applying proper HTML entity encoding to all user input before rendering it in web pages, which prevents the browser from interpreting injected scripts as executable code. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and regular security audits of user profile fields can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of keeping forum software updated and following secure coding practices that prevent the injection of untrusted data into web page contexts, aligning with the OWASP Top Ten security principles for web application protection.