CVE-2013-3537 in forum
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities in todooforum.php in Todoo Forum 2.0 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the (1) id_post or (2) pg parameter.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3537 represents a critical security flaw in Todoo Forum 2.0 where multiple SQL injection vulnerabilities exist in the todooforum.php script. This vulnerability affects two specific parameters: id_post and pg, which are both susceptible to malicious input manipulation that can lead to unauthorized database access and command execution. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation and sanitization within the application's database query construction logic, creating an avenue for attackers to inject malicious SQL code directly into the application's backend database operations. According to CWE-89, this vulnerability falls under the category of SQL Injection, which is one of the most prevalent and dangerous web application security weaknesses that can result in complete database compromise and unauthorized data access. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a Database Query Injection technique, where adversaries exploit improper input handling to manipulate database queries and extract sensitive information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers manipulate the id_post or pg parameters through HTTP requests to the todooforum.php endpoint. When the application processes these parameters without proper sanitization, the malicious input gets directly incorporated into SQL queries executed against the backend database. This allows attackers to construct and execute arbitrary SQL commands that can retrieve, modify, or delete database records, potentially gaining administrative privileges or accessing confidential user data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects core forum functionality parameters that are commonly used in navigation and content retrieval operations, making it easily exploitable through routine forum interactions. The lack of proper parameterized queries or input validation means that attacker-controlled data flows directly into database execution contexts, bypassing all standard security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft to encompass complete system compromise and potential lateral movement within affected networks. Successful exploitation can result in unauthorized access to user credentials, private forum communications, and sensitive personal information stored in the database. Attackers may also use this vulnerability as a foothold for further attacks, potentially escalating privileges to gain full administrative control over the forum application and underlying database systems. 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. Organizations running Todoo Forum 2.0 are at risk of data breaches, regulatory compliance violations, and reputational damage when this vulnerability remains unpatched. The impact is compounded by the fact that forum applications often contain sensitive user information including private messages, registration details, and potentially confidential business communications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3537 must address both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. The primary solution involves implementing proper input validation and sanitization for all user-supplied parameters, particularly those used in database queries. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patch or upgrade to a secure version of Todoo Forum that addresses this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing parameterized queries or prepared statements should be mandatory for all database interactions to prevent injection attacks. Security measures should include input filtering that removes or escapes special characters that could be used in SQL injection attempts, and output encoding to prevent malicious code execution in rendered content. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other application components, following the principle of defense in depth as outlined in cybersecurity best practices. Organizations should also implement proper access controls and database permissions to limit the impact of successful attacks, ensuring that database accounts used by the application have minimal necessary privileges.