CVE-2007-5688 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in directory.php in the Multi-Forums (aka Multi Host Forum Pro) module 1.3.3, for phpBB and Invision Power Board (IPB or IP.Board), allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) go and (2) cat parameters.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5688 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Multi-Forums module version 1.3.3, which was designed for integration with popular bulletin board systems including phpBB and Invision Power Board. This module, commonly known as Multi Host Forum Pro, was intended to facilitate multi-tenant forum hosting capabilities but contained fundamental security weaknesses that exposed systems to remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects the directory.php script which serves as a central component for forum navigation and content retrieval.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and sanitization within the directory.php script. Attackers can exploit this weakness by manipulating two specific parameters named 'go' and 'cat' which are used to determine the forum category and action to be performed. When these parameters are passed directly to SQL queries without proper sanitization or parameterization, malicious SQL payloads can be injected and executed within the database context. This occurs because the application fails to distinguish between legitimate user input and potentially harmful SQL commands, creating a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate the underlying database structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted across multiple security domains. Remote attackers can execute arbitrary SQL commands which may lead to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized access to user accounts. The vulnerability enables attackers to perform read operations on sensitive database tables containing user credentials, forum configurations, and potentially personal information. Additionally, the ability to execute write operations could allow attackers to modify forum content, inject malicious code, or even escalate privileges within the application environment. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which describes improper neutralization of special elements used in SQL commands, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal technical expertise and can be accomplished through standard web application penetration testing tools. Attackers typically craft malicious URLs containing SQL injection payloads in the affected parameters, which when processed by the vulnerable application result in unauthorized database access. The vulnerability affects the specific versions of phpBB and IP.Board platforms that integrated with the Multi-Forums module, making it particularly dangerous for organizations running these legacy systems. Given the widespread adoption of these forum platforms in 2007, the potential attack surface was extensive, affecting numerous websites and organizations that relied on these bulletin board systems for community engagement.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5688 should prioritize immediate patching of the Multi-Forums module to version 1.3.4 or later, which contained the necessary input validation fixes. Organizations should implement proper parameterized queries and prepared statements for all database interactions to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future. Input validation should be enforced at multiple layers including application-level filtering and database-level access controls. Network segmentation and intrusion detection systems can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar weaknesses in other applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current software versions and implementing proper security development practices including secure coding guidelines and code review processes. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and database activity monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts.