CVE-2014-9254 in MiniBB
Summary
by MITRE
bb_func_unsub.php in MiniBB 3.1 before 20141127 uses an incorrect regular expression, which allows remote attackers to conduct SQl injection attacks via the code parameter in an unsubscribe action to index.php.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9254 affects MiniBB version 3.1 prior to the 20141127 release, specifically within the bb_func_unsub.php component. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that enables remote attackers to execute SQL injection attacks through a carefully crafted malicious input. The vulnerability manifests when users attempt to unsubscribe from mailing lists through the index.php interface, making it particularly dangerous as it targets legitimate user functionality that would typically be considered safe.
The technical root cause stems from an incorrect regular expression implementation in the bb_func_unsub.php file that fails to properly sanitize or validate the code parameter during the unsubscribe process. This improper validation allows malicious input to bypass security checks and directly influence the SQL query execution. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-89 category of SQL Injection, which is classified as a high-risk vulnerability in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The flawed regular expression pattern does not adequately filter or escape special characters that could be used to manipulate database queries, creating an exploitation vector for attackers who can craft malicious payloads.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows attackers to perform unauthorized database operations including data extraction, modification, or deletion. Remote attackers could potentially access sensitive user information, manipulate mailing list subscriptions, or even escalate their privileges within the affected system. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate user actions such as unsubscribing from mailing lists, making it more difficult to detect and prevent. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and T1190 for exploitation of remote services, as it targets a web application interface with database interaction capabilities.
Organizations using affected versions of MiniBB should immediately implement mitigations including updating to the patched version released on November 27, 2014, which addressed the regular expression validation issue. Additionally, implementing proper input validation, parameterized queries, and web application firewalls can provide defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input sanitization in web applications and highlights how seemingly benign functionality can become attack vectors when inadequate security controls are implemented. Security teams should also conduct thorough code reviews focusing on regular expression usage and SQL query construction to prevent similar issues in other components of their applications.