CVE-2008-7082 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
MyBB (aka MyBulletinBoard) 1.4.3 includes the sensitive my_post_key parameter in URLs to moderation.php with the (1) mergeposts, (2) split, and (3) deleteposts actions, which allows remote attackers to steal the token and bypass the cross-site request forgery (CSRF) protection mechanism to hijack the authentication of moderators by reading the token from the HTTP Referer header.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-7082 affects MyBulletinBoard version 1.4.3, a popular web forum software that has been widely deployed across numerous online communities. This security flaw represents a critical weakness in the application's cross-site request forgery protection mechanisms, specifically targeting the moderation functionality within the platform. The vulnerability manifests when the system includes sensitive authentication tokens in URLs rather than properly managing them through secure session mechanisms or hidden form fields.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the moderation.php script where the my_post_key parameter is embedded in URLs for three specific actions: mergeposts, split, and deleteposts. This design pattern fundamentally undermines the CSRF protection model by exposing authentication tokens through the HTTP Referer header, which is an insecure method of token transmission. The my_post_key serves as a unique identifier that should typically be generated per session and validated through secure mechanisms to prevent unauthorized actions. When these tokens appear in URLs, they become accessible to attackers who can harvest them through various means including web server logs, browser history, or direct network monitoring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to perform privileged actions without authentication. An attacker can construct malicious URLs containing the stolen my_post_key token and trick moderators into clicking these links, thereby executing unauthorized actions such as deleting posts, splitting threads, or merging content. This represents a classic CSRF attack vector where the victim's browser automatically includes the Referer header containing the token, allowing the attacker to bypass the intended security controls. The vulnerability specifically targets moderator accounts, which possess elevated privileges within the forum environment, potentially allowing for complete compromise of forum content integrity and user data.
The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation as this vulnerability can be exploited to manipulate forum content in ways that may constitute data corruption or unauthorized modification. Attackers can leverage this flaw to remove sensitive posts, alter discussion threads, or perform destructive operations that could damage the forum's reputation and user trust. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices where sensitive tokens are not properly managed and are exposed through insecure transmission methods. The flaw aligns with CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and represents a failure to implement proper token management and validation mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique where attackers exploit insecure token handling to gain elevated access rights within the application environment.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper CSRF protection mechanisms that do not rely on URL-based tokens. The recommended approach involves generating unique tokens per session and validating them through secure hidden form fields or HTTP headers rather than URL parameters. Additionally, administrators should ensure that the Referer header is not relied upon for security decisions and that all sensitive operations require proper authentication verification through secure session management. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding practices, particularly when dealing with authentication tokens and sensitive parameters. Regular security audits should verify that all authentication tokens are properly managed and that no sensitive information is exposed through URL parameters or insecure transmission methods.