CVE-2005-4199 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in MyBulletinBoard (MyBB) before 1.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) month, (2) day, and (3) year parameters in an addevent action in calendar.php; (4) threadmode and (5) showcodebuttons in an options action in usercp.php; (6) list parameter in an editlists action to usercp.php; (7) rating parameter in a rate action in member.php; and (8) rating parameter in either showthread.php or ratethread.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-4199 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting MyBulletinBoard versions prior to 1.0, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and parameter handling within web applications. This vulnerability stems from inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data, specifically targeting multiple endpoints within the bulletin board system's calendar, user control panel, and member rating functionalities. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate database queries through carefully crafted parameters, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through multiple attack vectors within the MyBB application, each representing a distinct entry point for SQL injection attacks. The first set of vulnerable parameters includes month, day, and year in the addevent action of calendar.php, where user input directly influences database queries without proper sanitization. The second vector involves threadmode and showcodebuttons parameters within the options action of usercp.php, while the third targets the list parameter in the editlists action of usercp.php. Additional attack surfaces include the rating parameter in member.php's rate action, and the same rating parameter in both showthread.php and ratethread.php. These multiple entry points significantly increase the attack surface and exploitability of the vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation could lead to complete database compromise, user account takeover, and potential lateral movement within affected systems. Attackers could leverage these injection points to extract sensitive information including user credentials, personal data, and forum content, while also potentially gaining the ability to modify or delete database records. The vulnerability particularly affects systems where MyBB is deployed without proper security hardening measures, making it a prime target for automated exploitation tools and manual attackers seeking to compromise forum installations. According to CWE standards, this vulnerability maps to CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, while the attack patterns align with ATT&CK techniques involving command injection and credential access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of proper input validation and parameterized queries throughout the affected MyBB codebase. System administrators should upgrade to MyBB version 1.0 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address these injection vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization routines, using prepared statements for all database interactions, and establishing robust output encoding practices can significantly reduce the risk of exploitation. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, though the most effective solution remains the immediate patching of the vulnerable software components. Organizations should also conduct comprehensive security assessments of their MyBB installations to identify and remediate any other potential injection vulnerabilities that may exist within their deployed systems.