CVE-2014-9215 in PBBoard
Summary
by MITRE
SQL injection vulnerability in the CheckEmail function in includes/functions.class.php in PBBoard 3.0.1 before 20141128 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary SQL commands via the email parameter in the register page to index.php. NOTE: the email parameter in the forget page vector is already covered by CVE-2012-4034.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw in the pbboard 3.0.1 forum software that was discovered in the checkemail function within the includes/functions.class.php file. The vulnerability specifically affects the registration page's email parameter handling, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands against the underlying database. The flaw exists due to insufficient input validation and sanitization of user-supplied email data during the registration process, allowing malicious actors to inject sql payload directly into the database query execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of cwe-89 sql injection, which is classified as a persistent threat that can lead to complete database compromise and unauthorized data access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to data extraction, modification, or deletion of user accounts and forum content. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges, gain unauthorized access to sensitive user information, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the affected system. The vulnerability affects all installations of pbboard version 3.0.1 released before the patch date of 20141128, making it particularly dangerous for organizations that have not updated their systems. According to the attack pattern taxonomy, this vulnerability aligns with the technique described in the attack framework where attackers exploit input validation flaws to manipulate database queries through user-facing interfaces, specifically targeting web application registration forms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the lack of proper parameter binding or input sanitization within the checkemail function. When users submit email addresses during registration, the application fails to properly escape or validate the input before incorporating it into sql queries. This allows attackers to inject malicious sql syntax that gets executed by the database server, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any remote user with access to the registration page. Security practitioners should note that while similar vulnerabilities exist in other parts of the application as referenced in cve-2012-4034 for the password reset functionality, this specific instance creates a unique attack vector through the registration process that could be leveraged for account takeover and data exfiltration. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including input validation, parameterized queries, and proper output encoding to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability while applying the official patch released by the software vendor.