CVE-2006-3218 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in profile.php in Woltlab Burning Board (WBB) 2.1.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the userid parameter.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3218 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Woltlab Burning Board version 2.1.6 forum software. This vulnerability exists in the profile.php script where user input is improperly handled, creating an avenue for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through the userid parameter. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization mechanisms that fail to properly escape or filter user-supplied data before incorporating it into sql command structures.
This sql injection vulnerability operates at the application layer and falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-89, which specifically addresses sql injection vulnerabilities. The attack vector allows remote exploitation without requiring authentication, making it particularly dangerous for web applications that process user input directly into database queries. The userid parameter serves as the primary entry point for attackers to inject malicious sql payloads that can manipulate the underlying database structure and potentially extract sensitive information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation to encompass full database compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary sql commands, potentially gaining unauthorized access to user credentials, private messages, forum content, and other sensitive data stored within the application's database. The vulnerability also enables attackers to perform data modification operations, including creating new user accounts with administrative privileges, deleting critical forum content, or even executing system-level commands if the database server allows such operations.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 which covers exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker sending crafted malicious requests to the profile.php endpoint with specially formatted userid parameters designed to inject sql code. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target the application from anywhere on the internet without requiring physical access to the server infrastructure. Organizations using WBB 2.1.6 are particularly vulnerable as this represents a known flaw that was not addressed in the affected version, making it an attractive target for automated scanning tools and opportunistic attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of the WBB software to version 2.1.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the sql injection vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries in the application code can prevent similar issues in other components. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls to detect and block sql injection attempts, conduct regular security assessments of their web applications, and implement proper database access controls to limit the potential impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of input validation and proper sql query construction in preventing database-related security breaches.