CVE-2005-2600 in FUDForum
Summary
by MITRE
FUDForum 2.6.15 with "Tree View" enabled, as used in other products such as phpgroupware and egroupware, allows remote attackers to read private posts via a modified mid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2600 represents a critical access control flaw affecting FUDForum 2.6.15 when the Tree View feature is enabled. This issue impacts multiple software products including phpgroupware and egroupware that incorporate this forum component. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access restriction mechanisms within the forum's message handling system. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating the mid parameter in URL requests to gain unauthorized access to private forum posts that should normally be restricted to specific user groups or individuals.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the forum's message identification and retrieval system. When Tree View is enabled, the application uses a mid parameter to reference specific message identifiers in its database. However, the application fails to properly verify whether the authenticated user has appropriate permissions to access the targeted message. This lack of proper authorization checking creates an information disclosure vulnerability where any remote attacker can construct malicious URLs with modified mid parameters to bypass normal access controls. The flaw exists because the system does not perform adequate user privilege validation before serving private content, allowing unauthorized data retrieval through simple parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise sensitive communications within collaborative software environments. Organizations using affected versions of phpgroupware, egroupware, or other products incorporating FUDForum 2.6.15 may experience unauthorized access to private messages, user communications, and potentially confidential business information. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where these platforms are used for internal collaboration, project management, and secure communication channels. Attackers could exploit this to gather intelligence about ongoing projects, internal discussions, or sensitive organizational matters that should remain private to authorized personnel only.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses insufficient authorization in access control systems, and represents a classic example of improper privilege management in web applications. The attack pattern follows techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and credential access categories, specifically targeting the exploitation of weak access controls. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling the Tree View feature when private messaging is required, applying the latest security patches from FUDForum developers, and implementing additional access control layers such as web application firewalls. The recommended remediation strategy involves proper input validation and authorization checks for all message retrieval requests, ensuring that each mid parameter is verified against the authenticated user's permission levels before content is served. Additionally, security monitoring should be implemented to detect unusual access patterns and parameter manipulation attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.