CVE-2017-14652 in Tapatalk Plugin
Summary
by MITRE
SQL Injection vulnerability in mobiquo/lib/classTTForum.php in the Tapatalk plugin before 4.5.8 for MyBB allows an unauthenticated remote attacker to inject arbitrary SQL commands via an XML-RPC encoded document sent as part of the user registration process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2019
The CVE-2017-14652 vulnerability represents a critical sql injection flaw within the tapatalk plugin for mybb platforms, specifically targeting version 4.5.7 and earlier. This vulnerability exists in the mobiquo/lib/classTTForum.php file and demonstrates a classic lack of proper input sanitization within the xml-rpc processing pipeline. The flaw allows unauthenticated remote attackers to execute arbitrary sql commands by crafting malicious xml-rpc documents during user registration processes, fundamentally compromising the database integrity and potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the xml-rpc interface which is designed to handle remote procedure calls from mobile applications and external systems. During user registration, the system processes xml-rpc encoded documents that contain user-provided data which should be properly validated and sanitized before being incorporated into sql queries. However, the classTTForum.php implementation fails to adequately sanitize user input, allowing malicious payloads to be directly injected into sql statements. This represents a direct violation of secure coding practices and demonstrates inadequate data validation mechanisms at the input processing layer.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data theft or modification, as it provides attackers with the ability to escalate privileges and potentially gain complete administrative control over the affected mybb platform. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive user information including passwords, personal data, and potentially system credentials stored within the database. The unauthenticated nature of the attack means that any external party could exploit this flaw without requiring prior access credentials, making it particularly dangerous for public-facing forums. The vulnerability could also enable attackers to modify forum content, delete user accounts, or even inject malicious code into the platform.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-89 which specifically addresses sql injection flaws and corresponds to the ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation. The attack vector demonstrates how xml-rpc interfaces can become entry points for database exploitation when proper input validation is absent. Organizations should implement immediate patching procedures to upgrade to tapatalk plugin version 4.5.8 or later, which contains the necessary input sanitization fixes. Additionally, network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to restrict access to xml-rpc endpoints, while comprehensive logging and monitoring should be enabled to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits of plugin code and input validation mechanisms remain essential for preventing similar vulnerabilities in the future.