CVE-2006-1281 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in member.php in MyBulletinBoard (MyBB) 1.04 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the url parameter, a different vulnerability than CVE-2006-1272. NOTE: 1.10 was later reported to be vulnerable.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-1281 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the MyBulletinBoard (MyBB) forum software version 1.04. This security weakness resides in the member.php script and specifically affects the handling of the url parameter, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to exploit web application vulnerabilities. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-79 which defines the weakness as the failure to sanitize user input before incorporating it into web pages, creating opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary scripts in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output encoding within the MyBB application's member.php file. When the application processes the url parameter without proper sanitization, it allows malicious users to inject HTML content or JavaScript code that gets executed in the browsers of unsuspecting victims. This particular flaw differs from CVE-2006-1272, indicating that MyBB suffered from multiple distinct XSS vulnerabilities within the same software version, highlighting a broader security issue in the application's data handling mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to forum administrators and users alike. Attackers could leverage this flaw to steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious websites, deface forum content, or perform actions on behalf of authenticated users. The impact extends beyond simple data theft as it can enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential harvesting, session hijacking, or the distribution of malware through compromised user browsers. The fact that version 1.10 was later reported to be vulnerable indicates that the developers failed to address this specific input validation issue properly, suggesting a persistent flaw in the application's security architecture.
The attack vector for this vulnerability follows the standard XSS exploitation pattern where an attacker crafts a malicious URL containing script code in the url parameter and sends it to victims through various means such as forum posts, private messages, or social engineering campaigns. When victims click on the malicious link, their browsers execute the injected code in the context of the vulnerable forum, potentially leading to complete compromise of user sessions and access to sensitive forum functionality. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics, particularly through malicious links and web content.
Organizations using MyBB version 1.04 or 1.10 should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, output encoding, and proper parameter sanitization. The recommended approach involves implementing strict input validation that rejects or sanitizes potentially dangerous characters in URL parameters, implementing Content Security Policy headers to limit script execution, and upgrading to patched versions of MyBB as soon as possible. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious user activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and output encoding in preventing XSS attacks, a fundamental principle that aligns with security standards such as OWASP Top Ten and ISO 27001 requirements for secure application development practices.