CVE-2007-2249 in Phorum
Summary
by MITRE
include/controlcenter/users.php in Phorum before 5.1.22 allows remote authenticated moderators to gain privileges via a modified (1) user_ids POST parameter or (2) userdata array.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2249 resides within the Phorum bulletin board system version 5.1.21 and earlier, specifically in the include/controlcenter/users.php file. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that affects the control center functionality of the platform. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization mechanisms within the user management interface, which is accessible to authenticated moderators with specific permissions. The vulnerability manifests when these moderators attempt to modify user accounts through the administrative control panel, creating a path for unauthorized privilege elevation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of HTTP POST parameters sent to the affected script. Attackers can modify either the user_ids parameter or the userdata array to manipulate the privilege levels of target users. The flaw lies in the application's failure to properly validate and sanitize the input data before processing it within the user privilege modification routines. This allows authenticated users with moderator-level access to bypass normal access controls and elevate their privileges to administrator status. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the system handles user ID arrays and user data structures during the privilege modification process, where insufficient validation permits arbitrary parameter manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on Phorum for community management and user collaboration. A compromised moderator account could lead to complete system takeover, allowing attackers to modify user permissions, delete content, access sensitive user data, and potentially use the elevated privileges to establish persistent access. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the entire platform, as attackers could manipulate user accounts to gain unauthorized administrative access. This represents a serious breach of the principle of least privilege, where the system fails to properly enforce access control boundaries between different user roles.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching to Phorum version 5.1.22 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as role-based access control reviews, monitoring of administrative actions, and regular security audits of the control center functionality. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and privilege escalation. Security professionals should also consider implementing web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious parameter manipulation attempts, and establish strict logging of administrative activities to detect potential exploitation attempts.