CVE-2010-1859 in DeluxeBB
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in newpost.php in DeluxeBB 1.3 and earlier, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the membercookie cookie when adding a new thread.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1859 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the DeluxeBB 1.3 forum software and earlier versions. This weakness specifically manifests in the newpost.php script which processes new thread creation functionality. The vulnerability becomes exploitable when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, creating a dangerous condition where user input is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The attack vector involves manipulating the membercookie cookie parameter during thread creation, allowing malicious actors to inject arbitrary SQL commands that execute within the database context.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and sanitization practices within the DeluxeBB application code. When magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, PHP does not automatically escape special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data, leaving the application susceptible to SQL injection attacks. The newpost.php script fails to properly sanitize the membercookie cookie value before incorporating it into SQL queries, enabling attackers to craft malicious cookie values that contain SQL commands. This flaw directly violates security principles outlined in CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a weakness where untrusted data is embedded into SQL queries without proper escaping or parameterization.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or corruption. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain unauthorized access to the underlying database, potentially leading to full system compromise. The remote execution capability means attackers do not need physical access to the server, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for web applications. Successful exploitation could result in data exfiltration, database modification, user account compromise, and potentially serve as a foothold for further attacks within the network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects all versions of DeluxeBB up to and including version 1.3, representing a widespread issue across numerous installations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from system administrators and developers. The primary remediation involves upgrading to a patched version of DeluxeBB where the SQL injection vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and sanitization. Organizations should ensure that magic_quotes_gpc is enabled on their PHP configurations as an additional defensive measure, though this should not be considered a complete solution. Implementing proper parameterized queries or prepared statements in the affected application code would provide robust protection against similar vulnerabilities. Network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious cookie values and SQL injection patterns. Additionally, regular security audits and code reviews should be conducted to identify and remediate similar input validation weaknesses in other application components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1190 for SQL injection and T1071 for application layer protocols.