CVE-2005-3871 in JBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Joels Bulletin board (JBB) 0.9.9rc3 and earlier allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) nr parameter in topiczeigen.php, (2) forum and (3) zeigeseite parameters in showforum.php, (4) forum parameter in newtopic.php, and (5) tidnr parameter in neuerbeitrag.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2018
The CVE-2005-3871 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Joels Bulletin board version 0.9.9rc3 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability resides within the bulletin board software's handling of user-supplied input parameters, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The affected parameters span across multiple PHP script files including topiczeigen.php, showforum.php, newtopic.php, and neuerbeitrag.php, indicating a widespread issue in the application's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability's severity is compounded by its ability to target multiple entry points within the application's architecture, making it a comprehensive attack vector rather than a isolated flaw.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize or escape user input before incorporating it into SQL query constructions. When attackers manipulate the specified parameters such as nr, forum, zeigeseite, tidnr, and others, they can inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database server. This occurs because the application directly concatenates user-supplied values into SQL statements without proper input validation or parameterization. The CWE-89 classification applies directly to this vulnerability, as it represents a classic SQL injection weakness where untrusted data is incorporated into database queries without adequate sanitization. This flaw allows attackers to bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the application's database environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-3871 extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling complete system compromise through database-level attacks. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access confidential user information, including usernames, passwords, and personal data stored within the bulletin board's database. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core functionality parameters, meaning that any user interacting with the bulletin board system could potentially facilitate such attacks. The implications include unauthorized data manipulation, complete database compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the affected bulletin board system resides. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.005 (Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) categories, as it represents a publicly exploitable web application vulnerability that can be leveraged for unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2005-3871 require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the affected application. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to a patched version of Joels Bulletin board software, as version 0.9.9rc3 represents an outdated release that lacks modern security protections. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be enforced across all database interactions to prevent direct concatenation of user input into SQL commands. Input validation mechanisms must be strengthened to reject malformed or potentially malicious parameters before they reach database processing layers. Additionally, network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be deployed to monitor for exploitation attempts. Security auditing of the affected application should include comprehensive code reviews to identify similar patterns that may exist in other areas of the software, ensuring that this vulnerability is not merely an isolated incident but part of a broader security posture issue.