CVE-2005-3815 in Orca Forum
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in forum.php in Orca Forum 4.3b and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the msg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-3815 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Orca Forum 4.3b and earlier versions, specifically affecting the forum.php script. This vulnerability resides in the handling of user input through the msg parameter, which is processed without adequate sanitization or validation mechanisms. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious sql code directly into the application's database queries, potentially compromising the entire backend system. The issue stems from the application's failure to properly escape or parameterize user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql statements, creating an avenue for attackers to manipulate database operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the classic sql injection pattern where the msg parameter is directly concatenated into sql queries without proper input filtering. When an attacker submits malicious sql code through this parameter, the application processes it as part of the sql command rather than treating it as literal data. This misconfiguration enables attackers to execute unauthorized database operations including data retrieval, modification, deletion, or even administrative commands depending on the database privileges. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-89 which categorizes sql injection as a fundamental weakness in application security, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it provides attackers with extensive control over the affected forum system. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, allowing unauthorized users to access sensitive information including user credentials, private messages, and forum configurations. Attackers might also leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, modify forum content, or even establish persistent backdoors within the system. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation can occur from any location without requiring physical access to the server, making it particularly dangerous for web applications. Organizations using affected versions of Orca Forum face significant risks including data breaches, service disruption, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3815 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Orca Forum that properly implements input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks, ensuring that user input is never directly concatenated into sql commands. Input validation should be implemented at multiple layers including application-level filtering, output encoding, and proper error handling to prevent information leakage. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious sql patterns and unusual database access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other applications and ensure proper implementation of secure coding practices throughout the organization's software portfolio.