CVE-2011-0443 in tinybb
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in inc/tinybb-settings.php in tinyBB 1.2, when magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the id parameter in a profile action to index.php. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0443 represents a critical SQL injection flaw within the tinyBB 1.2 bulletin board system that exploits a fundamental weakness in input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability specifically targets the inc/tinybb-settings.php file where user-supplied data from the id parameter in the profile action of index.php is not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries. The flaw becomes particularly dangerous when the PHP configuration parameter magic_quotes_gpc is disabled, removing a crucial defense mechanism that would normally escape special characters in GET, POST, and COOKIE data. The vulnerability falls under CWE-89 which categorizes SQL injection as a severe weakness in application security where untrusted data is directly concatenated into SQL command strings without proper sanitization or parameterization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the id parameter to inject malicious SQL code that gets executed within the database context. Without the protection of magic_quotes_gpc, the application fails to properly escape single quotes, semicolons, and other SQL metacharacters that attackers can use to manipulate the intended database query. This allows threat actors to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack vector specifically leverages the profile action within the index.php script, making it accessible through normal user navigation paths rather than requiring specialized attack techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within network environments. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain unauthorized access to sensitive user data, including credentials and personal information stored in the database. The vulnerability also enables privilege escalation attacks where attackers can manipulate database permissions or execute administrative commands. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) and T1046 (Network Service Discovery) as attackers may use the compromised system to pivot and explore network resources. The vulnerability also aligns with T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) as it represents an attack against a publicly accessible web application component.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0443 require immediate remediation through proper input validation and parameterized queries. Organizations should implement prepared statements or parameterized queries to ensure that user input is never directly concatenated into SQL commands. The application should validate and sanitize all input parameters, particularly those used in database operations, using whitelisting techniques or proper escaping mechanisms. System administrators must also ensure that magic_quotes_gpc is properly configured or that alternative input sanitization measures are implemented. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that all database interactions use secure coding practices and that no similar vulnerabilities exist in other application components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of defense-in-depth strategies where multiple layers of security controls protect against different attack vectors and reduce the overall risk exposure of web applications.