CVE-2007-2860 in BoastMachine
Summary
by MITRE
user.php in BoastMachine 3.0 platinum allows remote authenticated users to gain privileges via a modified id parameter, as demonstrated by an edit_post action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-2860 affects BoastMachine 3.0 platinum, a web-based content management system that allows users to manage blog posts and other content. This particular flaw resides within the user.php script, which handles user-related operations within the application. The issue represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that can be exploited by authenticated users who have already gained access to the system through legitimate means. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the application's user management functionality.
The technical flaw manifests when an authenticated user manipulates the id parameter within the edit_post action of the user.php script. This parameter typically identifies which user record should be modified during a post editing operation. However, the application fails to properly validate or sanitize this parameter before processing the request, allowing malicious users to submit modified values that could potentially grant them elevated privileges or access to other user accounts. The vulnerability specifically allows attackers to modify user identifiers in a way that bypasses normal access controls, potentially enabling them to assume the identity of other users or gain administrative privileges within the system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the application's user authentication and authorization model. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access sensitive user data, modify content belonging to other users, or even gain administrative access to the entire system. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires only authenticated access to the system, meaning that an attacker who has already obtained valid user credentials can leverage this flaw to expand their access privileges. The vulnerability also has implications for data integrity and confidentiality, as unauthorized modifications to user records could lead to data corruption or information disclosure.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with several common security weaknesses documented in the CWE database, specifically CWE-285 which covers improper authorization, and CWE-20 which addresses improper input validation. The flaw also corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics, where adversaries seek to increase their access level within a compromised system. Organizations running BoastMachine 3.0 platinum should implement immediate mitigations including input validation controls, proper access control checks, and parameter sanitization. Additionally, the application should be updated to a patched version that properly validates user identifiers and enforces appropriate authorization controls. Regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parts of the application, particularly in areas where user identifiers are manipulated or passed between different system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include multiple layers of access control and input validation to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attacks.