CVE-2009-2385 in Member Awards
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the awardsMembers function in Sources/Profile.php in the Member Awards component 1.0.2 for Simple Machines Forum (SMF) allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a profile action to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2025
The CVE-2009-2385 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the Member Awards component of Simple Machines Forum version 1.0.2, specifically affecting the awardsMembers function in the Sources/Profile.php file. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate database queries through the id parameter. The flaw exists within the profile action handling mechanism of the forum software, making it accessible to remote attackers who can exploit this weakness without requiring authentication or local system access. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic improper input validation issue that falls under CWE-89, which categorizes SQL injection vulnerabilities as a fundamental weakness in software security architecture.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious payload containing SQL commands within the id parameter of a profile action request to index.php. The vulnerable code fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into database queries, allowing attackers to inject arbitrary SQL code that executes with the privileges of the database user. This enables unauthorized access to sensitive data, potential data modification, and in severe cases, complete database compromise. The attack vector leverages the web application's trust in user input without proper sanitization, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed from any remote location with access to the vulnerable forum installation.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-2385 extends beyond simple data theft, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and unauthorized administrative access. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract user credentials, personal information, and forum configuration details, potentially enabling further attacks against the broader network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of the SMF platform, particularly the member awards system, which could be used to manipulate user rankings, access restricted content, or even escalate privileges within the forum environment. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, demonstrating how web application flaws can serve as initial access vectors for broader security breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected SMF component to version 1.0.3 or later, which includes proper input validation and sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation at multiple layers, including web application firewalls and database-level protections, to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited. The fix typically involves implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements to ensure user input cannot alter the intended structure of database commands. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all installed forum components and ensure regular updates are applied to prevent similar SQL injection vulnerabilities from being exploited through the same attack patterns that were used to compromise the original system.