CVE-2005-3394 in oaboard forum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in forum.php in oaboard forum 1.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) channel parameter in the topics module and (2) topic parameter in the posting module.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3394 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the oaboard forum version 1.0, specifically affecting the forum.php script that handles user interactions in both topics and posting modules. This vulnerability resides in the input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate the underlying database structure through crafted HTTP requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit the same core flaw in different modules of the forum application. The first vector targets the channel parameter within the topics module where user input directly influences database query construction without adequate sanitization or parameterization. The second vector operates through the topic parameter in the posting module, demonstrating how the same insecure coding pattern persists across different functional areas of the application. Both attack surfaces allow remote attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user account under which the forum application operates.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to system integrity and data confidentiality as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the backend database. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, data modification, or complete database compromise depending on the privileges of the database account. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive user information, modify forum content, gain persistent access through backdoor creation, or even escalate privileges to system-level access if the database server runs with elevated permissions. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require local system access, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted input is directly incorporated into SQL command strings without proper validation or escaping mechanisms. This weakness falls under the broader category of injection flaws that represent one of the most prevalent and dangerous vulnerabilities in web applications according to the OWASP Top Ten. The specific attack pattern corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1190 - Exploit Public-Facing Application, where adversaries target vulnerabilities in externally accessible web applications to gain unauthorized access to backend systems. Organizations should implement proper input validation, parameterized queries, and least privilege database access controls to prevent such vulnerabilities from being exploited in production environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate implementation of proper input sanitization techniques such as parameterized queries or prepared statements that separate SQL code from user data. The forum application should be updated to a patched version that properly validates and escapes all user-supplied input before database processing. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, though they should not be relied upon as the sole remediation. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar injection vulnerabilities in other application components, as this flaw demonstrates how insecure coding practices can persist across multiple modules within a single application.