CVE-2009-2276 in Vote For Us extension
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in voteforus.php in the Vote For Us extension 1.0.1 and earlier for PunBB allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the out parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2025
The CVE-2009-2276 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Vote For Us extension version 1.0.1 and earlier for the PunBB bulletin board system. This vulnerability specifically affects the voteforus.php script and exploits improper input validation mechanisms that fail to sanitize user-supplied data before incorporating it into database queries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-89 which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws where untrusted data is directly concatenated into SQL command strings without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the out parameter within the voteforus.php script, which accepts user input that is then directly embedded into SQL queries without adequate filtering or escaping mechanisms. Attackers can manipulate this parameter to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed by the database server, potentially allowing full database access, data exfiltration, or even system compromise. This type of injection vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 which covers application layer protocol manipulation and specifically targets database communication channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database without authentication. Successful exploitation could result in complete database compromise, data theft, modification of user accounts, or even privilege escalation within the application environment. The vulnerability affects installations running PunBB with the Vote For Us extension version 1.0.1 or earlier, making it particularly concerning for web applications that rely on this bulletin board system for community engagement and user interaction. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized data access and potential system infiltration through this attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2276 should focus on immediate patching of the Vote For Us extension to version 1.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary input validation fixes. Additionally, implementing proper parameterized queries, input sanitization, and output escaping mechanisms within the application code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and database activity monitoring can provide additional layers of protection. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive code reviews to identify other potential SQL injection vulnerabilities within the PunBB installation and related extensions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party components and implementing robust input validation practices as recommended by OWASP Top Ten Project and NIST cybersecurity guidelines.