CVE-2006-1094 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in Datenbank MOD 2.7 and earlier for Woltlab Burning Board allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the fileid parameter to (1) info_db.php or (2) database.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/28/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1094 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Datenbank MOD 2.7 and earlier versions of the Woltlab Burning Board forum software. This vulnerability resides in the database module functionality and affects the core security posture of affected installations. The issue manifests when the application fails to properly sanitize user input before incorporating it into SQL query structures, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database operations through crafted parameter values. The vulnerability specifically impacts two key files within the application's codebase: info_db.php and database.php, which handle database-related functionality and user interactions. These files serve as entry points where unvalidated input from the fileid parameter is directly processed without adequate sanitization measures, allowing attackers to inject malicious SQL code that executes within the context of the database server.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a classic SQL injection attack pattern where the attacker manipulates the fileid parameter to inject malicious SQL commands into the database query execution flow. When the application processes the fileid parameter in either info_db.php or database.php, it constructs SQL queries that include the user-supplied input directly without proper parameterization or input validation. This allows an attacker to append additional SQL clauses such as UNION statements, conditional logic, or command execution directives that can bypass authentication mechanisms, extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the database environment. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the database layer, potentially providing attackers with access to all data stored within the application's database, including user credentials, private messages, forum posts, and other sensitive information. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-1094 extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to database contents, potentially leading to credential theft, data manipulation, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the affected forum infrastructure. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to carry out attacks, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. Organizations running affected versions of Woltlab Burning Board face significant risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and potential legal consequences due to the exposure of sensitive user information. The vulnerability's presence in database modules also creates opportunities for attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks, potentially gaining administrative access to database systems or even the underlying operating system if database server configurations allow such access. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols and T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents a common attack vector targeting web applications through parameter manipulation. The widespread use of Woltlab Burning Board in forum environments makes this vulnerability particularly concerning, as forum installations often contain sensitive user data including personal information, private communications, and potentially confidential business information shared by users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1094 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hardening measures. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to a patched version of Woltlab Burning Board that addresses the SQL injection vulnerability through proper input validation and parameterized query implementation. Organizations should implement proper input sanitization techniques that escape or validate all user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries, ensuring that special SQL characters and reserved keywords are properly handled. The implementation of prepared statements or parameterized queries should be enforced throughout the application codebase to prevent direct concatenation of user input into SQL commands. Additionally, organizations should deploy web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious SQL injection patterns in real-time traffic. Network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit database access to only necessary application components and reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, while database access logging should be enabled to monitor for unauthorized database access attempts. The vulnerability's age and the availability of patches make immediate remediation critical, as attackers have likely already developed exploitation tools specifically targeting this flaw in the wild.