CVE-2011-4173 in SMF
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site request forgery (CSRF) vulnerability in Simple Machines Forum (SMF) 2.x before 2.0.1 allows remote attackers to hijack the authentication of administrators or moderators via vectors involving image files, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-3615. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2019
The CVE-2011-4173 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site request forgery flaw discovered in Simple Machines Forum version 2.x prior to 2.0.1. This vulnerability specifically targets the administrative and moderator authentication mechanisms within the SMF platform, creating a significant security risk for forum administrators who manage sensitive user data and forum configurations. The flaw operates through image file manipulation techniques that differ from the related CVE-2011-3615 vulnerability, indicating a distinct attack vector that exploits the forum's handling of media uploads and processing. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-352 demonstrates its fundamental nature as a CSRF weakness where the application fails to properly validate the origin of requests, allowing malicious actors to perform unauthorized actions on behalf of authenticated users.
The technical implementation of this CSRF vulnerability occurs when administrators or moderators interact with image files uploaded to the forum system. Attackers can craft malicious web pages or embed specially crafted image files that, when viewed by an authenticated administrator, trigger unintended administrative actions within the SMF application. The vulnerability exploits the lack of proper anti-CSRF token validation in the forum's image handling and processing routines, particularly in contexts where file uploads are processed without sufficient verification of the request source. This weakness allows attackers to manipulate forum settings, modify user permissions, or execute administrative commands through the authenticated session of legitimate administrators, making it particularly dangerous for forum security. The attack requires minimal privileges from the attacker's perspective, as they only need to convince an administrator to view a maliciously crafted page or image file, leveraging the administrator's existing authenticated session.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-4173 extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it enables complete compromise of forum administrative controls. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized user account manipulation, deletion of forum content, modification of forum settings, and potential establishment of persistent backdoors within the forum infrastructure. The vulnerability's presence in SMF 2.x versions before 2.0.1 affects numerous forum administrators who may not have immediate access to patch updates, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to gain unauthorized control over critical forum operations. Organizations relying on SMF for community management, discussion platforms, or user-generated content systems face significant risks when this vulnerability remains unpatched, as the compromise of administrative privileges can lead to complete forum takeover and data exposure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-4173 should prioritize immediate patch deployment to SMF 2.0.1 or later versions where the CSRF vulnerability has been addressed. System administrators should implement additional protective measures including regular security audits of forum configurations, monitoring of administrative actions, and implementation of web application firewalls to detect and prevent unauthorized administrative requests. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1566.002 which involves credential manipulation through social engineering or session hijacking, emphasizing the need for multi-layered security approaches. Organizations should also consider implementing additional authentication controls such as two-factor authentication for administrative accounts, regular session token rotation, and strict file upload validation mechanisms that prevent execution of malicious code through image file processing. Network segmentation and access control measures can further limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security awareness training for administrators helps prevent accidental exposure to malicious content that could trigger the vulnerability.