CVE-2006-1324 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in acp/lib/class_db_mysql.php in Woltlab Burning Board (wBB) 2.3.4 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the errormsg parameter when a SQL error is generated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1324 represents a classic cross-site scripting flaw within the Woltlab Burning Board 2.3.4 forum software, specifically affecting the administrative control panel component. This issue resides in the database library class file class_db_mysql.php which handles SQL error reporting functionality. The vulnerability manifests when the system encounters database errors and attempts to display error messages to administrators, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts or HTML content through the errormsg parameter. The flaw demonstrates a critical weakness in input validation and output encoding practices within the software's error handling mechanism.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities where untrusted data is incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. The attack vector involves a remote attacker who can manipulate the SQL error reporting system by injecting malicious payloads through the errormsg parameter. When the system processes a SQL error and displays the error message, the injected script code gets executed within the context of an administrator's browser session. This creates a persistent threat where attackers can leverage the administrative privileges of affected users to perform unauthorized actions, steal session cookies, or redirect victims to malicious websites.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway to escalate privileges and compromise the entire forum administration system. When administrators encounter database errors, they typically view the error messages in their browser, making them susceptible to XSS attacks. The vulnerability affects the authentication and authorization mechanisms of the platform, as successful exploitation can lead to full administrative control over the forum. Attackers can craft malicious error messages that, when displayed to administrators, execute scripts that steal login credentials, modify forum content, or establish backdoor access. This vulnerability also impacts the integrity and availability of the web application, potentially causing service disruption or data corruption through malicious code execution.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-1324 should prioritize immediate patching of the Woltlab Burning Board 2.3.4 software to the latest available version that addresses this vulnerability. Organizations should implement proper input validation and output encoding mechanisms to prevent user-supplied data from being executed as code. The system should sanitize all error messages and parameters before rendering them in the browser context, ensuring that any potentially malicious content is properly escaped or removed. Network security measures including web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring for suspicious patterns in error message parameters. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other components of the forum software. The implementation of content security policies and proper session management practices can further reduce the attack surface and limit the potential impact of successful XSS exploitation attempts. Organizations should also establish secure coding practices that prevent the direct inclusion of untrusted data into web page content without proper sanitization and encoding procedures.