CVE-2006-6842 in Acronym Mod
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in admin/admin_acronyms.php in the Acronym Mod 0.9.5 for phpBB2 Plus 1.53 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-6842 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Acronym Mod 0.9.5 component of phpBB2 Plus 1.53, specifically affecting the admin/admin_acronyms.php administrative interface. This issue exposes a fundamental weakness in input validation and query construction practices that enables malicious actors to manipulate database operations through crafted HTTP requests. The vulnerability resides in how the application processes the id parameter, which is directly incorporated into SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization mechanisms. The affected component operates within the administrative context of a bulletin board system, making it particularly dangerous as it provides access to privileged functions that manage acronym definitions and related database entries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows the classic SQL injection attack pattern where an attacker crafts malicious input to manipulate the SQL query execution flow. When the id parameter is passed to the admin_acronyms.php script, the application constructs a database query that concatenates user-supplied input directly into the SQL statement structure. This design flaw allows attackers to inject additional SQL commands that bypass normal authentication and authorization checks, potentially enabling full database compromise. The vulnerability specifically impacts the administrative functionality of the acronym management system, where legitimate users might be able to view, edit, or delete acronym entries, but attackers can leverage this weakness to execute unauthorized database operations. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-89: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an SQL Command, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous classes of vulnerabilities in web applications. The attack vector requires remote access through web-based interfaces and can be executed without authentication, making it particularly severe for administrative components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft, potentially enabling complete system compromise and persistent access to sensitive information. Attackers can leverage the SQL injection to extract confidential data including user credentials, forum content, and administrative configuration details that may reveal additional attack surfaces. The vulnerability also allows for data manipulation and deletion operations, potentially corrupting the acronym database and affecting normal forum functionality. In a broader context, this flaw demonstrates poor secure coding practices and inadequate input validation that violates fundamental principles of defensive programming. Organizations using affected versions of phpBB2 Plus are exposed to risks including unauthorized access to administrative functions, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within network environments where the forum system resides. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects the administrative interface, which typically requires elevated privileges and provides access to critical system functions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1190: Exploit Public-Facing Application and T1071.004: Application Layer Protocol: DNS, as attackers may use this weakness to establish persistent access and exfiltrate data through the compromised system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-6842 must address both immediate remediation and long-term secure coding practices. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries to prevent user input from being interpreted as SQL commands. This includes upgrading to patched versions of the Acronym Mod and phpBB2 Plus where available, as the vulnerability has been addressed in subsequent releases. Organizations should also implement web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts, though this represents a secondary defense mechanism. Additional mitigations include restricting administrative access to trusted networks, implementing multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. The vulnerability underscores the importance of input sanitization and proper database query construction practices, with specific recommendations to use prepared statements and parameterized queries rather than string concatenation for database operations. Security teams should also establish monitoring procedures to detect unusual database access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to industry best practices and security frameworks, this vulnerability exemplifies the need for comprehensive security testing including dynamic application security testing and static code analysis to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in web applications.