CVE-2006-1638 in aWebBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in aWebBB 1.2 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) Username parameter to (a) accounts.php, (b) changep.php, (c) editac.php, (d) feedback.php, (e) fpass.php, (f) login.php, (g) post.php, (h) reply.php, or (i) reply_log.php; (2) p parameter to (j) dpost.php; (3) c parameter to (k) list.php or (l) ndis.php; or (12) q parameter to (m) search.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-1638 represents a critical SQL injection flaw in aWebBB version 1.2, a web-based bulletin board system that was widely used for online community forums. This vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within multiple script files that handle user authentication, posting, and search functionalities. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through various parameters, potentially enabling full database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user information.
The technical exploitation occurs through multiple attack vectors within the aWebBB application, specifically targeting the Username parameter in accounts.php, changep.php, editac.php, feedback.php, fpass.php, login.php, post.php, reply.php, and reply_log.php scripts. Additionally, the vulnerability extends to the p parameter in dpost.php, c parameter in list.php and ndis.php, and q parameter in search.php. These attack points demonstrate a widespread lack of proper parameter sanitization across the application's user interaction components. The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is incorporated into SQL queries without proper validation or escaping mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, including unauthorized access to user credentials, personal information, forum posts, and potentially system-level privileges. Attackers could manipulate user accounts, delete forum content, or even escalate their privileges to gain administrative control over the entire bulletin board system. The distributed nature of the vulnerability across multiple scripts increases the attack surface and makes comprehensive protection challenging for system administrators.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and parameter sanitization across all user-facing scripts within the aWebBB application. The most effective approach involves using prepared statements or parameterized queries to separate SQL code from user input, which directly addresses the root cause of the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input filtering, output encoding, and least privilege access controls can significantly reduce the potential impact of such attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and regular security audits to detect and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other components of their web infrastructure, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. Given the age of this vulnerability, immediate patching or migration to supported software versions is strongly recommended to prevent exploitation.