CVE-2010-1627 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
feed.php in phpBB 3.0.7 before 3.0.7-PL1 does not properly check permissions for feeds, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified attack vectors related to permission settings on a private forum.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1627 affects phpBB version 3.0.7 and earlier releases, specifically within the feed.php component that handles syndication feeds for forum content. This issue represents a critical authorization flaw that undermines the security model of private forum installations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user permissions when accessing feed data, creating a pathway for unauthorized users to gain access to content they should not be able to view. The flaw exists in the permission checking mechanism that governs feed access, allowing malicious actors to bypass intended access controls through unspecified attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the feed.php script's inadequate verification of user credentials and access rights before serving forum content through syndication feeds. When users attempt to access feeds from private forums, the system fails to properly authenticate their privileges or verify their membership status within the restricted forum sections. This weakness enables attackers to exploit the feed functionality as a backdoor mechanism to access private forum discussions, topics, and posts that should only be visible to authorized members. The vulnerability manifests when the application does not properly enforce the same permission checks that apply to regular forum browsing, creating an inconsistent security posture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for organizations relying on phpBB for private communication platforms, internal forums, or community sites with restricted access. Attackers can potentially harvest sensitive information including private discussions, member communications, and confidential forum content through automated feed readers or custom scripts. This compromise affects not only the confidentiality of forum data but also undermines the trust placed in private forum environments. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in corporate settings where internal discussions, strategic planning, or sensitive business information might be shared within private forum sections, making it a significant concern for information security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1627 require immediate implementation of the official phpBB patch version 3.0.7-PL1 which addresses the permission checking flaw in feed.php. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring feed access logs for unauthorized access attempts and ensuring that all phpBB installations are kept current with security patches. Network-level protections including firewall rules that restrict access to feed endpoints and web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious feed access patterns should be considered. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control and represents a classic example of insufficient authorization checks in web applications. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1566 for credential harvesting, as attackers can leverage the feed functionality to gather information about forum membership and content structure without proper authentication.