CVE-2008-3967 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
moderation.php in MyBB (aka MyBulletinBoard) before 1.4.1 does not properly check for moderator privileges, which has unknown impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3967 affects MyBB versions prior to 1.4.1, specifically within the moderation.php script that handles administrative moderation functions. This flaw represents a critical access control bypass issue that undermines the security model of the bulletin board system. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions within the moderation workflow, allowing unauthorized individuals to potentially execute moderation actions typically restricted to legitimate moderators. Such a weakness creates a significant risk to forum integrity and user data protection within the affected MyBB installations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the moderation.php file where privilege checking mechanisms fail to properly authenticate user roles before executing moderation functions. This represents a classic authorization bypass flaw that aligns with CWE-285, which covers improper authorization issues in software systems. The vulnerability allows attackers to escalate their privileges through remote exploitation, potentially gaining access to moderation tools that should only be available to authorized administrators or moderators. The lack of proper input validation and access control checks creates multiple attack vectors that can be leveraged across different operational environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data integrity compromise and user privacy violations. Attackers could manipulate forum content, delete posts, ban users, or modify forum configurations without proper authorization. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete forum compromise. The remote attack vectors enable exploitation from external networks without requiring local system access, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous for publicly accessible forums. Organizations running affected MyBB versions face significant risks including reputation damage, data loss, and potential regulatory compliance violations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-3967 require immediate implementation of the official security patch released by MyBB developers for version 1.4.1 and subsequent releases. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected installations and implement proper access controls. The fix addresses the core authorization bypass by strengthening privilege validation mechanisms in the moderation.php script, ensuring that only authenticated users with appropriate moderator permissions can execute moderation functions. Organizations should also implement network segmentation, firewall rules, and regular security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing robust access control measures as recommended by the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics.