CVE-2005-2989 in DeluxeBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in DeluxeBB 1.0 and 1.0.5 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) tid parameter to topic.php, the uid parameter to (2) misc.php or (3) pm.php, or the fid parameter to (3) forums.php or (4) newpost.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2989 represents a critical security flaw in DeluxeBB versions 1.0 and 1.0.5 that exposes multiple pathways for remote attackers to perform SQL injection attacks. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection weaknesses in software applications. The flaw manifests through four distinct parameters across different script files, creating multiple attack vectors that significantly increase the exploitability of the affected system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When attackers manipulate the tid parameter in topic.php, uid parameter in misc.php or pm.php, or fid parameter in forums.php or newpost.php, they can inject malicious SQL code that executes within the database context. This lack of input validation and proper parameterization creates an environment where attackers can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database records, or even gain complete control over the underlying database system. The vulnerability directly violates fundamental database security principles and demonstrates poor input handling practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2989 extends far beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform comprehensive database manipulation operations. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to user credentials, private messages, forum content, and potentially sensitive system information. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these vulnerabilities exist in core forum functionality, meaning that any user interacting with the affected scripts could inadvertently facilitate an attack. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190, which describes exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address the fundamental input validation issues that enable the attack. The primary remediation involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements throughout the application codebase, ensuring that user input cannot be interpreted as SQL commands. Additionally, comprehensive input sanitization routines should be deployed to filter or escape special characters that could be used in injection attacks. The application should also implement proper access controls and input length restrictions to minimize the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. System administrators should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on database interaction points and consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block suspicious SQL injection patterns. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices and the necessity of following established security frameworks such as those defined by OWASP to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.