CVE-2023-34249 in PyBB
Summary
by MITRE • 06/13/2023
benjjvi/PyBB is an open source bulletin board. Prior to commit dcaeccd37198ecd3e41ea766d1099354b60d69c2, benjjvi/PyBB is vulnerable to SQL Injection. This vulnerability has been fixed as of commit dcaeccd37198ecd3e41ea766d1099354b60d69c2. As a workaround, a user may be able to update the software manually to avoid this problem by sanitizing user queries to `BulletinDatabaseModule.py`.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-34249 affects benjjvi/PyBB, an open source bulletin board system that provides forum functionality for web applications. This bulletin board implementation suffers from a critical SQL injection vulnerability that exists in its database interaction modules. The flaw manifests when user inputs are not properly sanitized before being incorporated into database queries, creating an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary SQL commands against the underlying database system. The vulnerability specifically impacts the BulletinDatabaseModule.py file which handles database operations for the bulletin board functionality.
The technical flaw represents a classic SQL injection vulnerability classified under CWE-89, which occurs when application code directly incorporates user-supplied input into SQL query construction without proper validation or parameterization. This vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate database queries by injecting malicious SQL syntax through input fields that are processed by the bulletin board system. The vulnerability existed prior to commit dcaeccd37198ecd3e41ea766d1099354b60d69c2, indicating that the developers identified and addressed the issue through code modifications that properly sanitize user inputs before database operations. The fix implemented in the subsequent commit demonstrates proper input validation and parameterized query construction practices that prevent malicious SQL code from being executed.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to the bulletin board's database, potentially leading to data theft, data manipulation, or complete system compromise. Attackers could extract sensitive information including user credentials, forum posts, private messages, and other database content. The vulnerability also enables potential data integrity attacks where malicious actors could modify or delete forum content, alter user permissions, or even escalate privileges within the system. Given that bulletin board systems often contain user-generated content and personal information, the exposure of such data could result in privacy violations and regulatory compliance issues. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.005 for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols, as it involves exploitation of web application interfaces.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to the patched version of the software that includes the fix implemented in commit dcaeccd37198ecd3e41ea766d1099354b60d69c2. This update ensures that proper input sanitization and parameterized queries are employed in the BulletinDatabaseModule.py file. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including input validation at multiple layers, database query logging, and regular security scanning of their web applications. Manual sanitization of user queries as a workaround is not recommended as a long-term solution, though it may provide temporary protection. Security teams should monitor for any related vulnerabilities in similar open source components and ensure proper patch management processes are in place to address future security issues promptly. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in web applications, particularly those handling user-generated content that could be exploited for database attacks.