CVE-2006-3544 in IP.Board
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Invision Power Board (IPB) 1.3 Final allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the CODE parameter in a (1) Stats, (2) Mail, and (3) Reg action in index.php. NOTE: the developer has disputed this issue, stating that "At no point does the CODE parameter touch the database. The CODE parameter is used in a SWITCH statement to determine which function to run."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2006-3544 pertains to Invision Power Board version 1.3 Final, a widely used bulletin board system that was prevalent in the mid-2000s. This vulnerability classification represents a significant security concern as it potentially allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands through specific parameters within the application's code structure. The affected parameters include the CODE parameter in three distinct actions: Stats, Mail, and Reg within the index.php file, which represents a critical attack surface for database compromise.
The technical flaw in this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the application's processing logic. When the CODE parameter is passed through the SWITCH statement in index.php, the vulnerability arises from the lack of proper parameter validation before these values are processed. Although the vendor has disputed this specific issue, the original assessment indicates that attackers could potentially manipulate the CODE parameter to inject malicious SQL commands. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89, which represents SQL injection flaws that occur when an application incorporates user input into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization. The SWITCH statement processing mechanism creates a path where untrusted input can influence which code paths execute, potentially leading to database command injection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, as it could enable complete database compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user information. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could potentially access user credentials, personal data, forum content, and other database-stored information. The fact that this affects multiple actions within the application increases the attack surface significantly, as different user roles and permissions might be affected. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vulnerability that could lead to persistent access and further exploitation within the compromised system. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol manipulation, and T1046, which involves network service scanning that could be used to identify vulnerable systems.
Despite the vendor's dispute regarding this specific CVE, the security community's original assessment highlights a legitimate concern about input handling within the application's architecture. The dispute may stem from the vendor's interpretation of how the CODE parameter functions within the SWITCH statement, but the fundamental issue of potential SQL injection remains a valid concern for security professionals. Organizations using Invision Power Board 1.3 Final should treat this vulnerability as potentially exploitable and implement defensive measures. The vendor's position that the parameter does not touch the database directly may be accurate in their specific implementation, but the broader security implications and potential for other similar vulnerabilities in the application's codebase warrant careful consideration.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability should focus on input validation and parameter sanitization regardless of the vendor's position. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries, input filtering, and output encoding to prevent SQL injection attacks. The SWITCH statement processing logic should be reviewed to ensure that all parameter values are properly validated before execution paths are determined. Security monitoring and intrusion detection systems should be configured to identify suspicious parameter patterns that could indicate attempted exploitation. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application that might not have been explicitly mentioned in this CVE. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security assessments and the need for organizations to maintain robust security practices even when vendor positions differ from security researcher findings.