CVE-2010-4627 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in usercp2.php in MyBB (aka MyBulletinBoard) before 1.4.12 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of unspecified victims via unknown vectors.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2021
The CVE-2010-4627 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw identified in MyBB version 1.4.11 and earlier, specifically within the usercp2.php component of the MyBulletinBoard forum software. This vulnerability resides in the web application's session management and authentication mechanisms, creating a significant security risk for forum administrators and users who rely on the platform for community engagement and content management. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate authenticated user sessions through maliciously crafted requests that exploit the trust relationship between the web application and its users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability stems from the absence of proper request validation mechanisms within the usercp2.php script. When users navigate to specific forum pages or perform actions within the user control panel, the application fails to verify the authenticity of incoming requests against the originating domain. This omission creates an attack surface where malicious actors can craft web pages or send emails containing embedded links or scripts that, when executed by an authenticated user, perform unauthorized actions on behalf of the victim. The vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-352, which specifically addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery weaknesses in web applications. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute unauthorized operations such as changing user passwords, modifying forum settings, or posting malicious content to forums, all while maintaining the victim's authenticated session.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4627 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables attackers to gain persistent access to user accounts and potentially compromise entire forum communities. In practice, this vulnerability can lead to complete account takeovers, unauthorized content posting, and the potential for further exploitation within the forum's ecosystem. The attack vector remains particularly dangerous because it requires no privileged access or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to threat actors with minimal technical expertise. When considering the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1531 (Account Access Removal) and T1078 (Valid Accounts) as attackers can leverage compromised sessions to maintain persistent access to forum resources. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where forum administrators have elevated privileges, as successful exploitation could result in complete administrative control over the entire community platform.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4627 primarily focus on implementing robust CSRF protection mechanisms within the affected web application. The most effective approach involves incorporating anti-CSRF tokens into all state-changing requests, ensuring that each user session is validated against legitimate requests originating from the forum's own domain. Organizations should immediately upgrade to MyBB version 1.4.12 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing Content Security Policy headers and ensuring proper session management practices can provide additional layers of protection against similar attacks. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious authentication patterns and unauthorized modifications to user accounts. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices in web applications and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in significant security breaches within community platforms.