CVE-2015-1432 in phpBB
Summary
by MITRE
The message_options function in includes/ucp/ucp_pm_options.php in phpBB before 3.0.13 does not properly validate the form key, which allows remote attackers to conduct CSRF attacks and change the full folder setting via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1432 resides within the phpBB forum software ecosystem, specifically within the message_options function located in the includes/ucp/ucp_pm_options.php file. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the integrity of the software's user control panel functionality. The vulnerability affects phpBB versions prior to 3.0.13, making a significant portion of the user base susceptible to exploitation. The core issue stems from insufficient validation of the form key parameter, which serves as a crucial anti-CSRF mechanism within the application's security framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to exploit a cross-site request forgery weakness by manipulating the form key validation process. When users navigate to the private messaging options within the user control panel, the application fails to properly verify the authenticity of the form submission. This weakness enables attackers to craft malicious requests that appear legitimate to the phpBB application, thereby bypassing the intended security controls. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that multiple attack paths exist, potentially allowing manipulation of various user preferences and settings. The form key mechanism, which should prevent unauthorized modifications to user configurations, becomes ineffective due to inadequate validation procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to modify critical user folder settings within the private messaging system. This compromise can lead to unauthorized access to user communications, potential data exfiltration, and disruption of normal forum operations. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to alter folder configurations, potentially hiding or exposing private messages, modifying message retention policies, or redirecting user communications to malicious endpoints. The consequences can be particularly severe in environments where phpBB serves as a primary communication platform for sensitive discussions or collaborative work, as the vulnerability undermines the trust model that users expect from secure forum implementations.
Organizations and administrators should prioritize immediate patching of affected phpBB installations to address this vulnerability, as the window of opportunity for exploitation remains open for unpatched systems. The remediation process involves upgrading to phpBB version 3.0.13 or later, where the form key validation has been properly implemented to prevent CSRF attacks. Security teams should also implement additional monitoring for suspicious user behavior patterns, particularly around private messaging configuration changes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-352, which categorizes cross-site request forgery flaws, and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in web application security. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as it enables attackers to modify user settings without proper authentication. The recommended mitigation strategy includes not only applying the official patch but also implementing web application firewalls and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar validation weaknesses in other components of the application stack.