CVE-2010-1630 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in posting.php in phpBB before 3.0.5 has unknown impact and attack vectors related to the use of a "forum id" in circumstances related to a "global announcement."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1630 resides within the phpBB bulletin board system version 3.0.4 and earlier, specifically within the posting.php script. This issue manifests in the handling of forum identifiers during global announcement operations, creating a potential security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact nature of the flaw and its potential consequences were not fully detailed in the initial reporting, leaving security professionals to analyze the potential attack surfaces and impact areas. The problem occurs when phpBB processes forum identifiers in contexts related to global announcements, which are typically used to disseminate important messages across an entire board or specific sections of a forum.
The technical flaw involves improper validation or handling of forum identifiers within the posting.php component, particularly when these identifiers are used in global announcement scenarios. This could potentially allow an attacker to manipulate forum ID parameters in ways that bypass normal access controls or authorization checks. The vulnerability's impact stems from how phpBB processes these identifiers, suggesting a possible input validation issue or insufficient access control mechanisms when handling forum-specific data during global announcement creation or modification. This type of vulnerability often relates to improper parameter handling and can potentially lead to privilege escalation, unauthorized access to restricted forums, or data manipulation within the bulletin board system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability could be significant for phpBB installations, particularly those with multiple forums or complex permission structures. Attackers might exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to restricted forum areas, potentially viewing or modifying content in forums they should not have access to. The vulnerability could also enable attackers to manipulate global announcements in ways that affect the entire board, potentially causing disruption or allowing for the dissemination of malicious content. Organizations relying on phpBB for community forums, enterprise communication platforms, or educational institutions using the system could face serious security implications if this vulnerability is exploited, as it could compromise the integrity and confidentiality of forum data and user communications.
Security mitigations for CVE-2010-1630 primarily involve upgrading to phpBB version 3.0.5 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper validation of forum identifiers and enhanced access control mechanisms. System administrators should also implement proper input sanitization practices and regularly review forum permissions to ensure that users cannot manipulate forum identifiers to gain unauthorized access. Additionally, monitoring for unusual posting patterns or attempts to access restricted forums should be implemented as part of broader security surveillance measures. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which covers improper input validation, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and unauthorized access. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities within their broader infrastructure. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper parameter validation in web applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing, particularly in applications handling user-generated content and complex permission structures.