CVE-2007-0830 in vBulletin
Summary
by MITRE
** DISPUTED ** Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in the Admin Control Panel (AdminCP) in Jelsoft vBulletin 3.6.4 allow remote authenticated administrators to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors related to the (1) User Group Manager, (2) User Rank Manager, (3) User Title Manager, (4) BB Code Manager, (5) Attachment Manager, (6) Calendar Manager, and (7) Forums & Moderators functions. NOTE: the vendor disputes this issue, stating that modifying HTML is an intended privilege of an administrator. NOTE: it is possible that this issue overlaps CVE-2006-6040.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-0830 represents a disputed cross-site scripting weakness within the administrative control panel of Jelsoft vBulletin version 3.6.4. This issue affects multiple administrative functions including user group management, user rank management, user title management, bb code management, attachment management, calendar management, and forum moderation capabilities. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within these administrative interfaces, allowing authenticated administrators to inject malicious scripts that could be executed in the context of other users' browsers. The technical flaw stems from the improper handling of user-supplied input within the administrative panel, where HTML and script content is not adequately filtered or escaped before being rendered back to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple XSS exploitation as it provides a pathway for authenticated administrators to potentially escalate privileges or conduct more sophisticated attacks. While the vendor disputes the classification of this issue, arguing that HTML modification is an intended administrative function, the practical implications remain concerning from a security perspective. Attackers could leverage this capability to inject malicious code that might steal session cookies, redirect users to malicious sites, or perform actions on behalf of other users within the forum environment. The vulnerability's disputed nature suggests that security researchers and vendors may have differing interpretations of what constitutes acceptable administrative privileges versus potential security risks.
From a cybersecurity standards perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 - Improper Neutralization of Input During Web Page Generation ('Cross-site Scripting') and falls under ATT&CK technique T1548.002 - Account Manipulation. The issue demonstrates how legitimate administrative privileges can be abused to create security risks, particularly when the administrative interface lacks proper input validation controls. The overlapping nature with CVE-2006-6040 indicates a pattern of similar vulnerabilities within the vBulletin platform, suggesting systemic issues in the application's security architecture. Organizations using affected versions should carefully evaluate their administrative access controls and implement additional monitoring for unusual administrative activities, as the vendor's stance on this issue may not adequately address the practical security concerns in real-world deployments.
The disputed classification of this vulnerability highlights the complexity of security assessments in web applications where legitimate administrative functions may inadvertently create attack surfaces. This case demonstrates the importance of considering both the intended behavior and potential security implications of administrative interfaces. While the vendor maintains that HTML modification is a designed feature, the security community's perspective focuses on the potential for abuse and the need for proper input sanitization regardless of administrative privileges. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even authenticated administrative users should be subject to appropriate security controls to prevent the injection of malicious content that could compromise the entire platform.