CVE-2011-3615 in SMF
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) before 1.1.15 and 2.x before 2.0.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via vectors involving a (1) HTML entity or (2) display name. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2017
The vulnerability CVE-2011-3615 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Simple Machines Forum versions prior to 1.1.15 and 2.x versions before 2.0.1. This vulnerability resides in the forum software's handling of user input, specifically when processing HTML entities and display names, creating pathways for remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands on the underlying database. The flaw demonstrates the classic characteristics of SQL injection vulnerabilities, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate database queries through crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves two primary attack vectors that exploit different aspects of input processing within the SMF platform. The first vector involves HTML entity manipulation, where attackers can inject malicious SQL code through improperly sanitized HTML entities in user-submitted content. The second vector targets display names, which are commonly used in forum interfaces for user identification and can be manipulated to inject SQL commands. Both attack paths leverage the fundamental weakness in input sanitization where user-provided data is directly incorporated into database queries without proper escaping or parameterization techniques. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89 which defines SQL injection as the insertion of malicious SQL code into queries executed by the database.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it allows remote attackers to gain unauthorized access to the forum's database infrastructure. Attackers can potentially extract sensitive user information including usernames, passwords, and personal data stored in the database. The vulnerability enables privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors can manipulate database queries to gain administrative access or even execute system-level commands if the database server permissions are improperly configured. This creates a significant risk for forum administrators who may not realize that their user data is being compromised through these injection attacks.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including applying the official patches released by Simple Machines Forum to address both version branches affected by this vulnerability. Network segmentation and database access controls should be strengthened to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Input validation should be enhanced at multiple layers including web application firewalls, application code level sanitization, and database query parameterization. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten, specifically addressing injection flaws that remain among the most critical web application security risks. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their forum installations to verify proper patch application and monitor for suspicious database activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.