CVE-2012-5874 in Elite Bulletin Board
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in the (1) update_whosonline_reg and (2) update_whosonline_guest functions in Elite Bulletin Board before 2.1.22 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the PATH_INFO to (a) checkuser.php, (b) groups.php, (c) index.php, (d) login.php, (e) quicklogin.php, (f) register.php, (g) Search.php, (h) viewboard.php, or (i) viewtopic.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/03/2024
The CVE-2012-5874 vulnerability represents a critical SQL injection flaw in Elite Bulletin Board versions prior to 2.1.22, specifically affecting two core functions: update_whosonline_reg and update_whosonline_guest. This vulnerability resides in the web application's handling of user session tracking mechanisms, where the application fails to properly sanitize input parameters derived from the PATH_INFO variable. The flaw allows remote attackers to inject malicious SQL commands through various entry points within the bulletin board system, creating a significant attack surface that could compromise the entire database infrastructure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and parameter sanitization within the affected functions. When users interact with the bulletin board system through the specified PHP scripts, the application processes PATH_INFO data without proper escaping or filtering mechanisms. This oversight creates a direct pathway for attackers to manipulate SQL query structures by injecting malicious payloads into the PATH_INFO parameter. The vulnerability manifests across multiple PHP files including checkuser.php, groups.php, index.php, login.php, quicklogin.php, register.php, Search.php, viewboard.php, and viewtopic.php, indicating a systemic issue in how the application handles user input across its core functionality modules.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents severe implications for organizations relying on the Elite Bulletin Board system. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary SQL commands with the privileges of the database user account, leading to complete database compromise, data exfiltration, and unauthorized modifications to user accounts, forum content, and system configurations. The impact extends beyond simple data theft to include potential system takeover scenarios where attackers might escalate privileges to gain administrative control over the entire bulletin board installation. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for publicly accessible web applications.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and represents a classic example of insecure input handling in web applications. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to ATT&CK technique T1190, which covers exploitation of remote services through SQL injection attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching to version 2.1.22 or later, implementing proper input validation and parameterized queries, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious SQL injection attempts. Additionally, comprehensive security auditing of all input handling mechanisms within the application is recommended to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other parts of the system architecture.