CVE-2007-6237 in DeluxeBB
Summary
by MITRE
cp.php in DeluxeBB 1.09 does not verify that the membercookie parameter corresponds to the authenticated member during a profile update, which allows remote authenticated users to change the e-mail addresses of arbitrary accounts via a modified membercookie parameter, a different vector than CVE-2006-4078. NOTE: this can be leveraged for administrative access by requesting password-reset e-mail through a lostpw action to misc.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-6237 represents a critical authentication bypass flaw within DeluxeBB version 1.09, specifically affecting the cp.php script responsible for profile management. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and session management mechanisms that fail to properly verify user credentials during account modification operations. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to manipulate the membercookie parameter to impersonate other users within the forum system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the lack of proper session validation within the cp.php script. When users attempt to update their profiles, the system should verify that the membercookie parameter corresponds to the actual authenticated user account. However, the current implementation accepts modified membercookie values without performing adequate verification checks. This oversight creates a path where an authenticated user can modify the membercookie parameter to reference another user's account, thereby gaining unauthorized access to modify that user's profile information including email addresses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple profile modification, as it can be leveraged for more severe attacks within the forum environment. The most significant consequence occurs when attackers exploit this flaw to request password reset emails through the lostpw action in misc.php. Since the system does not properly validate that the membercookie parameter belongs to the requesting user, attackers can use this vector to send password reset emails to arbitrary user accounts. This capability enables attackers to potentially gain administrative access to the forum system, as password reset functionality often provides pathways to elevated privileges within web applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in authentication mechanisms, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for account access removal. The flaw represents a classic case of insufficient session management where the application fails to properly validate user identity during critical operations, creating an authentication bypass condition that can be exploited by authenticated users.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal privileges since attackers only need to be authenticated to the forum system, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by users with basic forum membership access. The attack vector specifically targets the membercookie parameter manipulation, which represents a fundamental session management weakness in the application's security architecture. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in session handling can create significant security risks that extend far beyond the initial scope of the reported issue.
Organizations using DeluxeBB 1.09 should implement immediate mitigations including proper session validation for all profile update operations, enforcement of strict parameter verification mechanisms, and implementation of additional access controls for sensitive administrative functions. The recommended approach involves ensuring that all user actions are properly authenticated and authorized, with the system verifying that the membercookie parameter corresponds to the authenticated user account before allowing any profile modifications. Additionally, implementing proper logging and monitoring for profile update activities can help detect unauthorized attempts to manipulate user sessions and identify potential exploitation attempts.