CVE-2016-9413 in MyBB
Summary
by MITRE
The Admin control panel in MyBB (aka MyBulletinBoard) before 1.8.7 and MyBB Merge System before 1.8.7 allows remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9413 affects MyBB, a popular bulletin board system, and its associated MyBB Merge System, specifically impacting versions prior to 1.8.7. This security flaw resides within the administrative control panel component of the software, creating a significant risk for organizations relying on these platforms for community management and user interaction. The vulnerability manifests as a clickjacking weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate user interactions without their knowledge or consent.
Clickjacking attacks exploit the trust users place in web applications by overlaying invisible or deceptive elements on top of legitimate interface components. In the context of MyBB's administrative control panel, this vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious web pages that trick administrators into performing unintended actions. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the CVE description suggest that multiple attack surfaces within the admin interface could be compromised, potentially affecting various administrative functions including user management, forum configuration, content moderation, and system settings. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and can lead to complete administrative compromise of the affected system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data manipulation or theft. When an administrator clicks on what they believe to be a legitimate interface element, they may unknowingly execute malicious commands or navigate to unintended locations. The attack vector typically involves embedding the vulnerable admin panel within an iframe on a malicious website, where users are诱导 to perform actions that appear to be part of the normal interface but actually execute attacker-controlled operations. This can result in unauthorized user account creation, content modification, system configuration changes, or even complete system takeover. The vulnerability affects the integrity and availability of the administrative functions, potentially leading to data loss, service disruption, or unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
Organizations using affected versions of MyBB should immediately implement mitigation strategies including the application of available security patches and updates to version 1.8.7 or later. The implementation of proper content security policy headers, particularly the X-Frame-Options header, can prevent the vulnerable admin panel from being embedded in malicious iframes. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as multi-factor authentication for administrative accounts and regular security audits of the platform. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1021, which specifically addresses insufficient protection against clickjacking attacks, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1211 where adversaries leverage clickjacking to manipulate user interactions with applications. The risk assessment should include monitoring for suspicious administrative activities and implementing network-level controls to prevent unauthorized access to administrative interfaces. Regular security training for administrators can also help mitigate the risk of successful clickjacking attacks by increasing awareness of potential deception techniques.