CVE-2008-0471 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in privmsg.php in phpBB 2.0.22 allows remote attackers to delete private messages (PM) as arbitrary users via a deleteall action.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/05/2019
The CVE-2008-0471 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in phpBB version 2.0.22's privmsg.php script. This vulnerability operates under the well-established CWE-352 category for cross-site request forgery, which fundamentally undermines the integrity of web application authentication mechanisms by enabling unauthorized actions to be performed on behalf of authenticated users. The flaw specifically targets the private messaging functionality of the popular open-source bulletin board system, creating a dangerous attack vector that allows remote adversaries to manipulate user data without proper authorization.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the absence of proper anti-CSRF token validation within the deleteall action of the private messaging system. When a user navigates to a maliciously crafted webpage or clicks on a compromised link, the attacker can trigger a request to the vulnerable phpBB installation that executes the deleteall command with the privileges of the currently authenticated user. This occurs because the application fails to verify the authenticity of the request source, relying solely on the user's existing session rather than implementing additional validation mechanisms such as one-time tokens or referer header checks. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to perform unauthorized destructive actions on private messages, potentially leading to data loss and privacy violations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple message deletion, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the web application's security model. Attackers can leverage this flaw to delete all private messages from any user account they can access, potentially causing significant disruption to communication channels within forums and communities. This type of attack falls under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and data destruction categories, where adversaries can manipulate user data to cause operational disruption or gather intelligence through message deletion. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires minimal user interaction to exploit, often only needing the user to visit a malicious webpage while logged into the phpBB forum, making it a significant threat to forum administrators and users alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0471 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper anti-CSRF token mechanisms within the phpBB application's private messaging functions, ensuring that each destructive action requires validation of the user's intent through a unique token that cannot be forged by external parties. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as enhanced session management, referer header validation, and input sanitization. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and patch management, as phpBB 2.0.22 was vulnerable to this attack due to missing security controls that were subsequently implemented in later versions. Organizations using legacy phpBB installations should prioritize upgrading to supported versions that include proper CSRF protection mechanisms, as the absence of these controls creates persistent security risks that can be exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise.