CVE-2006-3256 in Burning Board
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in report.php in Woltlab Burning Board (WBB) 2.3.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the postid parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3256 represents a critical sql injection flaw within the Woltlab Burning Board forum software version 2.3.1. This vulnerability specifically affects the report.php script which handles user reporting functionality within the bulletin board system. The flaw stems from improper input validation and sanitization of the postid parameter, which is used to identify specific forum posts for reporting purposes. When an attacker submits a maliciously crafted postid value, the application fails to properly escape or filter the input before incorporating it into sql queries executed against the underlying database.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability places the application at significant risk due to the nature of sql injection attacks. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the sql query execution flow by injecting malicious sql code through the postid parameter. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of sql injection, which is classified as a high-severity weakness in the CWE database. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it enables unauthenticated remote code execution capabilities, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive data, modify database contents, or even escalate privileges within the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data compromise, as it can lead to complete system takeover when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could gain access to user credentials, private forum content, administrative accounts, and potentially the underlying database server itself. The WBB 2.3.1 version was widely deployed in enterprise and community forum environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect numerous organizations simultaneously. The vulnerability also represents a significant risk to the integrity of forum data and user privacy, as attackers could manipulate or delete forum content while maintaining persistent access through compromised administrative accounts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected Woltlab Burning Board software to version 2.3.2 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to prevent sql injection attacks, as recommended by the ATT&CK framework under technique T1190 for sql injection. Network segmentation and web application firewalls can provide additional defensive layers, while regular input validation and output encoding should be enforced throughout the application. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual sql query patterns and unauthorized access attempts, with the implementation of principle of least privilege for database connections. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning to identify similar flaws in legacy software systems, as many organizations continue to operate outdated forum software that may contain unpatched vulnerabilities.