CVE-2006-0218 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in MyBulletinBoard (MyBB) before 1.0.2 have unspecified impact and attack vectors, related to (1) admin/moderate.php, (2) admin/themes.php, (3) inc/functions.php, (4) inc/functions_upload.php, (5) printthread.php, and (6) usercp.php, and probably related to SQL injection. NOTE: it is likely that this issue subsumes CVE-2005-4602 and CVE-2005-4603. However, since the vendor advisory is vague and additional files are mentioned, is is likely that this contains at least one distinct vulnerability from CVE-2005-4602 and CVE-2005-4603.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-0218 represents a significant security weakness in MyBulletinBoard version 1.0.1 and earlier, affecting multiple administrative and user-facing components of the forum software. This issue encompasses multiple unspecified vulnerabilities across critical files including admin/moderate.php, admin/themes.php, inc/functions.php, inc/functions_upload.php, printthread.php, and usercp.php, indicating a widespread flaw in the application's input validation and sanitization mechanisms. The presence of potential SQL injection capabilities within these files suggests that attackers could exploit these weaknesses to manipulate database queries and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the bulletin board system and represents a critical security risk for any organization relying on this software for community forums or discussion platforms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization practices within the MyBB codebase, particularly in files handling administrative functions and user interactions. When examining the affected files, the issue manifests as a failure to properly sanitize user-supplied input before processing, allowing malicious actors to inject harmful code or manipulate database queries through carefully crafted inputs. The inclusion of SQL injection potential specifically indicates that database interactions are not properly protected against malicious input, which could enable attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or potentially escalate privileges within the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into input fields for execution by the database, making it a fundamental weakness in data handling and security architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-0218 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, potentially enabling full system compromise through privilege escalation and unauthorized access to administrative functions. Attackers could exploit these vulnerabilities to gain administrative control over the bulletin board, modify user permissions, delete or alter forum content, and access sensitive user data including passwords and personal information. The presence of multiple affected files suggests that the vulnerability is not isolated to a single function but represents a systemic flaw in how the application processes user input and handles database interactions. Organizations running MyBB versions prior to 1.0.2 would be particularly vulnerable to attacks targeting these administrative interfaces, potentially leading to complete system compromise and unauthorized access to thousands of forum users. The vulnerability's potential to subsume other CVEs like 2005-4602 and 2005-4603 indicates that this issue encompasses multiple distinct attack vectors that could be exploited individually or in combination.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-0218 require immediate action to upgrade to MyBB version 1.0.2 or later, which should contain patches addressing the identified vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation measures across all user-facing interfaces, particularly in administrative functions and file upload handlers where the vulnerabilities were specifically identified. Network-level protections including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious patterns of activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of the bulletin board system should be conducted to identify additional potential vulnerabilities, while user access controls should be strictly enforced to limit administrative privileges to authorized personnel only. The vulnerability's classification under potential SQL injection attacks necessitates database-level protections including parameterized queries and proper input sanitization, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer attacks and T1046 for network service scanning that attackers might employ to identify vulnerable systems. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely application of security updates and maintain detailed logs of system changes for forensic analysis purposes.