CVE-2005-2673 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in modcp.php in WoltLab Burning Board 2.2.2 and 2.3.3 allows remote authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) x or (2) y parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2673 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the administrative control panel of WoltLab Burning Board versions 2.2.2 and 2.3.3. This weakness resides in the modcp.php script which serves as the moderation control panel for forum administrators. The vulnerability specifically affects parameters named x and y, which are processed without adequate input validation or sanitization, creating an exploitable path for malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database queries.
This sql injection vulnerability operates through the manipulation of authenticated administrative interfaces, where attackers must first establish valid credentials to access the moderation control panel. The flaw stems from improper handling of user-supplied input within the x and y parameters, allowing attackers to inject malicious sql code that gets executed within the context of the database connection. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 as improper neutralization of special elements used in an sql command, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol tunneling through sql injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables authenticated attackers with administrative privileges to execute arbitrary sql commands against the forum's database. This could result in complete database compromise, data exfiltration, privilege escalation to other user accounts, and potential persistence mechanisms within the application. Attackers could manipulate forum data, delete or modify posts, access user credentials, and potentially escalate their privileges to gain full administrative control over the entire forum system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-2673 should prioritize immediate patching of affected WoltLab Burning Board versions to the latest available releases that address this sql injection vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent similar issues in future deployments. Additionally, access controls should be strictly enforced with role-based permissions, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Network segmentation and monitoring of database access patterns can help detect anomalous activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input sanitization in web applications, particularly within administrative interfaces where elevated privileges can be leveraged for maximum impact.