CVE-2006-5738 in PunBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in PunBB before 1.2.14 allow remote authenticated administrators to execute arbitrary SQL commands via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-5738 represents a critical security flaw in PunBB forums prior to version 1.2.14, specifically targeting the authentication and authorization mechanisms that govern administrative access. This issue manifests as multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities that can be exploited by authenticated administrators, creating a significant risk within the application's security architecture. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws that occur when untrusted data is incorporated into SQL commands without proper sanitization or validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper parameter handling within the PunBB administrative interfaces. When authenticated administrators perform certain administrative functions, the application fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied input before incorporating it into database queries. This flaw allows malicious administrators to inject arbitrary SQL commands that bypass normal security controls, potentially executing unauthorized database operations with elevated privileges. The unspecified vectors suggest that multiple administrative functions within the forum software are susceptible to this injection attack, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various administrative pathways.
The operational impact of CVE-2006-5738 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables authenticated attackers to gain complete control over the forum's database infrastructure. This includes the potential to extract sensitive user information, modify forum content, manipulate user permissions, and even escalate privileges to full system access depending on the database configuration. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that an attacker with administrative credentials can leverage this flaw from any location, making it particularly dangerous in environments where administrative access is compromised or where insider threats exist. The attack pattern follows the ATT&CK framework's technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1046 for remote services, as the exploitation requires legitimate administrative access but extends the attacker's capabilities through database manipulation.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigation strategies including upgrading to PunBB version 1.2.14 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address the SQL injection flaws. Additionally, administrators should conduct comprehensive security audits of their forum configurations to identify any potential exploitation attempts, implement database query logging to detect suspicious activities, and establish network monitoring to track unauthorized access patterns. The vulnerability's remediation aligns with industry best practices for secure coding standards, particularly those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten 2004 and subsequent security frameworks that emphasize input validation and proper database access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing database activity monitoring solutions and establishing incident response procedures specifically designed to handle SQL injection attacks that may compromise administrative accounts.