CVE-2013-3527 in Forums
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in Vanilla Forums before 2.0.18.8 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the parameter name in the Form/Email array to (1) entry/signin or (2) entry/passwordrequest.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3527 represents a critical SQL injection flaw affecting Vanilla Forums versions prior to 2.0.18.8. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of user input parameters, specifically within the Form/Email array processing functionality. The flaw allows remote attackers to manipulate the application's database interactions by injecting malicious SQL commands through carefully crafted input parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs in the authentication and password recovery pathways of the forum system. Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by manipulating the parameter name within the Form/Email array when accessing the entry/signin or entry/passwordrequest endpoints. This manipulation enables the execution of arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database, potentially allowing full database access and manipulation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied data before incorporating it into SQL query constructions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. An attacker could potentially gain administrative privileges, steal user credentials, access private forum content, or even compromise the entire forum infrastructure. The remote nature of the attack means that exploitation does not require physical access to the system, making it particularly dangerous for online forums that handle sensitive user information. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-89, which specifically addresses SQL injection flaws, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications.
Organizations utilizing affected Vanilla Forums versions should immediately implement security patches released by the vendor to address this vulnerability. The remediation process involves upgrading to Vanilla Forums version 2.0.18.8 or later, which includes proper input validation and parameterized query implementations. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and input sanitization measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect suspicious database query patterns, and regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other web applications within the organization's infrastructure.