CVE-2006-2589 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in rss.php in MyBB (aka MyBulletinBoard) 1.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the comma parameter. NOTE: it is not clear from the original report how this attack can succeed, since the demonstration URL uses a variable that is overwritten with static data in the extracted source code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2019
The CVE-2006-2589 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw discovered in MyBB version 1.1.1's rss.php script, specifically targeting the comma parameter. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a severe weakness in application security that allows attackers to manipulate database queries through malicious input. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the rss.php file where user-supplied input from the comma parameter is directly incorporated into SQL query construction without proper sanitization or parameterization. When an attacker submits malicious input through this parameter, the application fails to validate or escape the input before using it in database operations. This creates an environment where attacker-controlled SQL code can be executed with the privileges of the database user account that the web application uses to connect to the database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to the database backend. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized data access, modification, or deletion of critical forum information including user credentials, private messages, and forum configurations. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system or local network privileges to exploit it, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) techniques, as it targets publicly accessible web interfaces.
The ambiguity noted in the original report regarding the attack vector's success mechanism stems from the demonstration URL's implementation details where variables are overwritten with static data, suggesting that the vulnerability may require specific conditions or additional exploitation techniques beyond the basic parameter injection. However, this does not diminish the severity of the underlying flaw, which remains a legitimate security concern requiring immediate remediation. Organizations using MyBB 1.1.1 should prioritize upgrading to patched versions or implementing proper input validation measures, including parameterized queries and input sanitization, to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the official security patches released by the MyBB development team while implementing comprehensive database access controls and monitoring mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts.