CVE-2010-4522 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in MyBB (aka MyBulletinBoard) 1.4.14, and 1.6.x before 1.6.1, allow remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to (1) editpost.php, (2) member.php, and (3) newreply.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2019
The CVE-2010-4522 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting MyBulletinBoard versions 1.4.14 and 1.6.x prior to 1.6.1. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-79, which specifically addresses improper neutralization of input during web page generation, making it a classic XSS attack vector. The vulnerability exists in three primary files within the MyBB application: editpost.php, member.php, and newreply.php, each serving distinct user interaction points within the bulletin board system. These files process user input without adequate sanitization, creating opportunities for malicious actors to inject malicious scripts that execute in the context of other users' browsers.
The technical flaw manifests when the application fails to properly validate and sanitize user-supplied data before rendering it in web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by submitting malicious payloads through the vulnerable endpoints, particularly during post editing, member profile viewing, and reply creation operations. When legitimate users browse pages that contain the injected malicious content, their browsers execute the embedded scripts, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, or redirection to malicious sites. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it affects core functionality areas where users regularly interact with content, making successful exploitation likely when users browse forums or view member profiles.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform sophisticated attacks such as cookie theft, session manipulation, and data exfiltration. Under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing, as attackers can craft convincing malicious content that appears legitimate to end users. The attack surface is broad due to the nature of bulletin board systems where users frequently post content, making the exploitation vectors numerous and difficult to monitor. Organizations running affected MyBB versions face significant risks including potential data breaches, unauthorized access to user accounts, and compromise of the entire forum infrastructure, especially if administrators and users have elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4522 include immediate patching of the MyBB application to versions 1.6.1 or later, which contain the necessary input validation fixes. Administrators should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures, including HTML escaping and proper output encoding for all user-generated content. The application should enforce strict content validation rules and implement security headers such as Content Security Policy to limit script execution. Additionally, regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other components of the web application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts, while user education about recognizing potentially malicious content remains crucial for defense-in-depth strategies.