CVE-2007-3592 in Elite Bulletin Board
Summary
by MITRE
PM.php in Elite Bulletin Board before 1.0.10 allows remote authenticated users to delete arbitrary PM messages and conduct other attacks via modified id fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/26/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-3592 affects the PM.php script within Elite Bulletin Board versions prior to 1.0.10, representing a critical authorization bypass and input validation flaw that enables authenticated attackers to manipulate private messaging functionality. This issue stems from insufficient input sanitization and validation mechanisms within the message handling component, allowing malicious users to modify the id field parameters and execute unauthorized actions. The vulnerability specifically targets the private messaging system where users can manipulate the identifier field to access or modify messages belonging to other users, effectively undermining the confidentiality and integrity of the messaging system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits a classic parameter manipulation attack vector where the application fails to properly validate user input before processing private message operations. When an authenticated user accesses the PM.php script, the system accepts id parameters without adequate verification of ownership or authorization rights. This creates a scenario where attackers can modify the message identifier field to reference messages belonging to other users, enabling them to delete, modify, or otherwise manipulate private communications. The flaw represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and demonstrates poor access control implementation that allows unauthorized data manipulation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to user privacy and system integrity within the bulletin board environment. Attackers can leverage this weakness to conduct message deletion attacks that may result in loss of important communications, potentially disrupting user workflows and communications. The vulnerability also enables more sophisticated attacks such as message tampering, which could be used to spread misinformation or manipulate user interactions. The impact extends beyond simple data deletion as it compromises the trust model of the private messaging system and could facilitate further attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The remote nature of this attack means that malicious actors do not require physical access to the system and can exploit the vulnerability from any location with network connectivity.
Organizations and system administrators should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Elite Bulletin Board version 1.0.10 or later, which contains the necessary security patches to address this vulnerability. Input validation controls should be strengthened to ensure all message identifier parameters are properly validated against the authenticated user's ownership rights. The implementation of proper access control mechanisms and session management can help prevent unauthorized access to other users' private messages. Additionally, regular security audits and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar input validation vulnerabilities in other components of the system. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in access control systems, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for phishing attacks that could be used to obtain initial access. The security community should treat this as a critical vulnerability requiring immediate attention due to its potential for data manipulation and privacy violations.